wmww^i^  ■ 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL 


NETTA 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA   SAN  DIEGO 


/ERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA   SAN  DIEGO 


3  1822  02399  5590 


THE    FAIRY    DOLL 


BY  THE  SAME  AUTHOR 

SIX      FAIRY     PLAYS      FOR 
CHILDREN 

ROBIN  GOODFELLOW  AND 
OTHER  FAIRY PLAYS  FOR 
CHILDREN 

THE  BODLEY  HEAD 

THE   FAIRY  DOLL 

AND  OTHER  PLAYS  FOR  CHILDREN 
BY    NETTA    SYRETT 


JOHN    LANE    THE   BODLEY   HEAD    LTD 
LONDON  :  VIGO  STREET  W  i      MCMXX1I 


NEW  EDITION 


Printed  in  Great  Britain  at 
The  Mayflower  Press,  Plymouth.     William  Brendon  &  Son,  Ltd. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The  Fairy  Doll 3 

Christmas  in  the  Forest  .         .         .23 

The  Christening  of  Rosalys  ;  a  Pastoral 

Play  for  Grown-up  Children  .  .  35 
The  Enchanted  Garden  .  .  .  -57 
The  Strange  Boy 71 


THE    FAIRY   DOLL 


THE    FAIRY    DOLL 


CHARACTERS 

Rosalind    \(Real  Children). 
Barbara     J v  ' 

THE  DOLLS— 

The  Papa.  The  Mamma. 

Tommy.  Angela. 

The  Nurse.  The  Cook. 

The  Fairy. 


Scene  I. — The  Nursery.  On  a  table  is  a  large  Doll's 
House.  Standing  before  it  are  Barbara  and 
Rosalind.  They  are  busy  polishing,  dusting, 
and  putting  back  the  furniture  which  is  spread 
upon  the  table. 

Rosalind.  Here's  the  wardrobe,  and  here's  the 
bath.    Have  you  put  in  the  bird-cage  ? 

Barbara.  Yes.  There !  Everything's  quite 
tidy. 

Now  shall  we  bring  her  ? 

Rosalind.  Wait  a  minute.  The  Mamma's 
dropping  the  baby.  Let  me  pin  it  on  tighter. 
[She  lakes  the  Mamma  doll  out  of  the  Doll's  House 
3 


4  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

and  performs  this  operation.]  That's  better. 
[Replaces  the  doll.] 

Barbara.  [In  an  exasperated  tone.]  Look  at 
Tommy !  He's  fallen  into  the  grate  again.  He 
really  is  tiresome  ;  and  the  Mamma  spoils  him 
terribly. 

Rosalind.  [Calmly.]  Pick  him  out.  Oh  !  and 
stand  the  Cook  up  straight,  she's  lying  on  the 
kitchen  table. 

Barbara.  [Obeying.]  She's  been  doing  that  all 
the  morning.  There  !  Now  we  can  bring  her, 
can't  we  ?  [She  runs  towards  a  cupboard  on  the 
other  side  of  the  room.] 

Rosalind.  [Hurriedly.]  No,  wait !  The  Papa's 
fallen  over  the  dining-room  sideboard.  Oh  !  he's 
knocked  over  two  wine  glasses. 

Barbara.  [Going  back  impatiently.]  They  are 
a  bother  to-day,  all  these  dolls  !  They've  never 
been  so  stupid  before.  Look  at  Angela  now  1  Her 
head's  in  the  bath,  and  a  moment  ago  she  was 
sitting  nicely  on  the  sofa. 

Rosalind.  [Slowly,  as  she  turns  away  from  the 
Doll's  House.]    Barbara  ! 

Barbara.  [Still  busy  with  the  Doll's  House] 
What? 

Rosalind.  [Mysteriously]  I  don't  believe  they 
want  her. 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  5 

Barbara.  [Turning  sharply.]  Not  want  the 
Fairy  Doll  ? 

Rosalind.    No. 

Barbara.    Why  not  ? 

Rosalind.  Look  what  a  horrid  expression  the 
Cook's  got  ! 

Barbara.    [Turning  to  see.]    So  she  has. 

Rosalind.    And  look  at  the  Papa's  face  ! 

Barbara.  He  looks  just  like  Uncle  Jack  when 
the  dinner's  late,  doesn't  he  ?  .  .  .  But  Rosalind, 
they  must  like  her.    Why,  she's  beautiful. 

Rosalind.  Yes,  but  she's  got  wings  and  they 
haven't. 

Barbara.    Why  will  they  mind  that  ? 

Rosalind.    I  don't  know,  but  they  will. 

Barbara.  Let's  look  at  her.  [The  children  go 
to  a  clipboard  and  lift  out  a  box,  from  which  they  very 
gently  take  the  Fairy  Doll.  She  is  dressed  in  white 
and  has  long  wings.] 

Rosalind.  [With  a  long  breath.]  Of  course, 
she's  perfectly  lovely.  Do  you  remember  her  on 
the  top  of  the  Christmas  tree,  and  how  afraid  we 
were  we  shouldn't  get  her  ? 

Barbara.  [Mournfully.]  Yes,  and  we've  been 
planning  ever  since  for  her  to  live  in  the  Doll's 
House — as  a  great  favour  to  the  other  dolls. 

Rosalind.  [Decisively.  ]  Well,  they  don't  want  her. 


6  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Barbara.  Do  you  think  it's  because  they  think 
the  Doll's  House  isn't  good  enough  ?  It  isn't  very 
pretty  when  you  come  to  think  of  it.  That's  the 
worst  of  having  Grandmamma's  doll's  house.  The 
dolls  are  not  pretty  either.  They're  so  old- 
fashioned.  Look  at  the  way  they're  dressed  ! 
Angela's  plaid  frock,  and  the  Papa's  awful 
trousers. 

Rosalind.  Yes,  but  all  the  same,  I  believe  they 
think  themselves  much  grander  than  the  Fairy 
Doll. 

Barbara.  Oh,  Rosalind !  how  could  they  ? 
Look  here  !  She  ought  to  live  in  a  garden — not  in 
a  house.  Let's  make  a  garden  for  her  here  on  the 
table,  beside  the  Doll's  House.  Auntie  Margaret  will 
help  us.  We'll  make  little  paths,  and  green  baize 
for  grass,  and  a  piece  of  glass  stuck  in  for  a  pond. 
And  then  it  will  be  a  beautiful  garden,  with  roses 
and  great  trees,  and  blue  sky.  And  the  Fairy  Doll 
will  live  there  in  a  bower  of  roses,  and  come  in  and 
see  the  Doll's  House  people  sometimes  for  a  great 
treat.    Oh,  do  let  us  ! 

Rosalind.  Well,  we'll  make  the  garden  ;  but 
I  don't  believe  the  Doll's  House  people  will  like 
it,  all  the  same. 

Barbara.  Let's  bring  them  all  out  and  look 
at  them.    [She  collects  them  all  in  a  bunchy 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  7 

Rosalind.  Don't  hold  the  Papa  upside  down, 
his  hat's  not  stuck  on. 

Barbara.  He  oughtn't  to  wear  it  in  the  house 
at  all. 

Rosalind.  I  told  you  he  was  a  rude  thing.  He 
never  takes  it  off  even  when  the  Mamma  comes 
into  the  room.  I  don't  believe  he  would  take  it  off 
even  for  the  Fairy  Doll. 

Barbara.  [Setting  the  dolls  in  a  row.]  Well, 
now,  here's  Cook. 

Rosalind.    [Scrutinising  her.]    Awfully  cross. 

Barbara.    And  here's  Nurse. 

Rosalind.  Well,  you  know  how  rude  she  is  to 
the  Mamma  !  She  said  yesterday  she'd  never  had 
a  nurse  so  rude  to  her.  Don't  you  remember  ? 
[Imitating  Nurse's  voice.]  "  Well,  Ma'am,  I  do 
my  best  ;  and  in  every  other  situation  I've  been, 
I've  given  the  greatest  satisfaction  ;  but  then,  I've 
always  lived  with  ladies  before,  and  you'll  please 
to  take  a  month's  notice.  .  .  ." 

Barbara.  [Nodding.]  Yes,  I  remember. 
Horrid  for  the  Mamma  !  Now  the  Mamma's  got 
a  nice  kind  face. 

Rosalind.  Yes,  but  you  know  how  she  gives 
way  to  everyone — especially  to  the  Papa.  And 
think  how  she  spoils  Tommy  ! 


8  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Barbara.  Yes,  Tommy's  very  naughty.  Look 
at  the  horrid  smile  he's  got. 

Rosalind.  And  he  teases  Angela  so,  and  he's 
so  nasty  to  her.  Angela's  a  silly  little  thing,  isn't 
she  ?    The  Papa  says  she's  got  no  character. 

Barbara.  The  Papa's  got  too  much  character, 
I  think.  You  know  what  a  noise  and  fuss  he 
always  makes. 

Rosalind.  Well,  that's  all  the  family ;  the 
baby  doesn't  count,  because  it's  always  pinned  on. 
But  I  don't  believe  any  of  them  will  be  pleased 
about  the  Fairy  Doll. 

Barbara.  Very  well ;  we  won't  put  her  in  the 
house  then,  but  we'll  make  the  garden  for  her  to 
live  in.  Let's  make  it  a  perfectly  lovely  garden, 
Rosalind,  and  then  the  children  can  go  there  and 
play,  and  the  Fairy  Doll  can  tell  them  fairy  tales, 
and  the  Mamma  can  go  and  sit  on  the  grass  and 
make  daisy-chains  for  the  baby,  and  the  Papa  can 
sit  under  the  trees  and  read  the  newspaper.  [She 
has  crossed  the  room  and  taken  off  the  lid  of  the  box 
containing  the  Fairy  Doll,  and  while  she  speaks  she  is 
looking  down  at  it  tenderly.]    And  then  the  Fairy 

Doll 

[A  crash!] 
What's  that  ? 

Rosalind.    [Who  has  been  replacing  the  dolls  in 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  9 

the  Doll's  House.]  Only  the  Papa.  He's  in  an 
awful  temper  ;  he's  knocked  over  the  coal-scuttle. 
[.4  pause.]    Barbara  ! 

Barbara.    What  ? 

Rosalind.  I  can't  help  thinking  they're  sort  of 
alive. 

Barbara.    Well,  I've  always  thought  so  ! 

Rosalind.  Of  course  they  don't  want  us  to 
know  it.    But  if  we  came  down  one  night 

Barbara.  Awfully  late  !  When  everyone  has 
gone  to  bed  ! 

Rosalind.    Yes.    At  12  o'clock,  you  know. 

Barbara.  Oh,  Rosalind.  Let's  make  the 
garden  first — and  do  it  to-night. 

Curtain. 


Scene  II. — The  drawing-room  in  the  Doll's  House. 
Cardboard  chairs  and  furniture ;  artificial 
flowers  under  glass  stands  on  mantelpiece ; 
woolly  hearth-rug,  etc. 

[Seated  on  the  sofa  in  the  rigid  attitude  befitting  her 
name  is  the  Mamma  Doll.  She  is  dressed  in  a 
stiff  full  skirt  of  early  Victorian  make,  and  the 
rag  baby  in  long  clothes  is  pinned  on  to  her  with 
motor  hat-pins. 


io  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Angela,  the  "  little  girl  "  doll,  in  a  very  full  dress  of 
book  muslin,  sits  near  on  a  chair. 

Tommy,  in  a  sailor  suit  trimmed  with  gold  braid,  is 
on  the  floor,  his  back  propped  against  the  sofa. 
Both  "  children  "  have  their  arms  and  legs 
extended  in  stiff  doll  fashion.  When  the  curtain 
goes  up  they  are  motionless  and  as  much  like 
dolls  as  possible. 

After  a  moment  door  L.  is  slowly  pushed  open,  and 
Barbara  and  Rosalind  enter,  in  their  night- 
gowns.   They  look  round  in  amaze.'] 

Barbara.    [In  an  excited  whisper.]    Rosalind  1 

Rosalind.  Don't  you  see  what  it  is  ?  The 
Doll's  House  drawing-room. 

Barbara.  Grown  big.  Look  at  the  bird-cage  ! 
And  the  clock  and  the  furniture  !  Everything's 
grown  big,  like  a  real  room. 

Rosalind.  And  so  have  the  dolls  !  There's 
the  Mamma. 

Barbara.  And  Angela — and  Tommy.  Oh, 
Rosalind  !  But  where  is  the  Fairy  Doll  ?  [Ex- 
citedly.] Do  you  think  she's  turned  into  a  real 
fairy  ? 

Rosalind.  But  these  are  not  real.  I  mean 
only  like  dolls  are  real.    Not  so  real  as  we  are. 

Barbara.     How  do  you  know  ?     Oh,  I'm  so 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  n 

glad  we  came  down  to  see  how  they  were  getting 
on  ! — Hush  ! 

[A  clock  "off"  begins  to  chime  twelve.    At 
the  last  stroke  Tommy  begins  to  kick  ;  he 
then  leans  across  and  slaps  Angela,  who 
whines.] 
Angela.    Mamma  !  Tommy's  slapping  me. 
Barbara.    [In  a  low  voice.]    Rosalind  ! 

[The  two  children,  holding  hands,  retreat 
to  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  watch,  half 
hidden  by  a  big  chair.    Each  doll,  while 
it  speaks,  becomes  for  a  moment  really 
alive,  though  the  voice  should  be  rather 
high  and  mechanical.     The  moment  it 
lias  tittered  the  words,  it  relapses  into  the 
doll  stage,   leaning  limply  against  the 
furniture,  etc.    This  peculiarity  must  be 
preserved  throughout] 
The  Mamma.    Tommy  darling,  that's  naughty 
to  your  little  sister  .  .  .  [In  a  wheedling  tone.] 
Did  you  see  the  pretty  lady  in  the  garden  to-day  ? 
Angela.     [Eagerly]     Yes,   he   did,   Mamma  ; 
and  he  threw  mud  at  her,  Mamma,  all  over  her 
wings.    Wasn't  he  naughty  ? 
Tommy.    [To  Angela.]    Sneak  ! 
The  Mamma.     Oh,  Tommy  darling,  that  was 
rude  !    Why  don't  you  like  the  pretty  lady  ? 


12  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Tommy.    Because  she's  a  silly  idiot. 

The  Mamma.  Oh,  I  don't  think  she's  quite  an 
idiot,  Tommy  ;  but  if  she's  not  so  clever  as  we  are, 
that  ought  to  make  us  kind  to  her,  you  know. 

Tommy.    [Obstinately.]    She's  a  silly  idiot. 

Angela.    [Shrilly.]    Nurse  says  she's  no  lady. 

[Enter  Nurse.  She  is  dressed  in  the  round 
print  skirt  and  flat  cap  of  the  Doll's 
House  "  Nurse."] 

Nurse.  [Grimly.]  Come,  Master  Tommy,  it's 
your  turn  first  to-night. 

Tommy.  [Kicking  upon  the  floor.]  No,  I  don't 
want  to  go  to  bed  !    I  don't  want  to  go  to  bed  ! 

The  Mamma.  Be  a  good  boy  and  you  may  take 
a  piece  of  chocolate  out  of  the  cupboard.  [Tommy 
moves  stiffly  to  a  cupboard.]  [To  Nurse,  rather 
timidly.]  I  hear  you  saw  the — er — lady  in  the 
garden  to-day,  Nurse  ? 

The  Nurse.  [Drawing  herself  up.]  Lady, 
ma'am  ?  I  saw  the  young  person,  yes,  ma'am  ; 
and  that  brings  me  to  what  I  was  going  to  say, 
ma'am.    You'll  please  take  a  month's  warning. 

The  Mamma.    [Distractedly.]    But  why,  Nurse  ? 

The  Nurse.  I've  lived  in  the  best  families, 
ma'am,  but  never  'ave  I  been  where  that  sort  of 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  13 

thing  was  kept.    In  the  garden,  too  !    And  Cook 
will  tell  you  the  same,  ma'am. 
[A  knock.] 
The  Mamma.    Come  in. 

[Enter  Cook — very  fat  and  red-faced.    She 
speaks  with  a  Cockney  accent.] 

Cook.    I  wish  to  give  notice,  please,  ma'am. 

The  Mamma.   This  is  very  sudden,  Cook.   Why  ? 

Cook.  Because  I'm  a  respectable  woman, 
ma'am,  and  I  don't  like  insecks  about  the  plice. 

The  Mamma.    Insects,  Cook  ? 

Cook.  That  there  in  the  garden  [pointing  out 
of  window]  'ave  got  wings  sime  as  insecks  'ave.  I 
s'pose  she's  a  inseck.  She  couldn't  be  nothing 
else. 

Angela.    She  might  be  a  bird. 

Tommy.  Think  yourself  so  clever !  [Pulls 
Angela's  hair.  She  gives  a  little  scream  and  re- 
lapses into  rigidity.] 

The  Mamma.  [Feebly.]  But  she  seems  harmless. 
She  seems  to  wish  to  be  kind  to  the  children  ;  she 
wanted  to  tell  them  stories,  didn't  she,  Nurse  ? 

Nurse.  [Primly.]  She  did,  ma'am,  and  Miss 
Angela,  I'm  sorry  to  say,  was  inclined  to  listen,  till 
Master  Tommy  come  up  and  pulled  her  away.  He 
'as  a  great  deal  of  spirit — Master  Tommy. 


14  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

The  Mamma.  But  she  isn't  in  your  way  at  all, 
living  among  the  roses  as  she  does.  It  isn't  as 
though  she  wanted  any  cooking  done.  She  might 
be  a  bird,  as  the  child  says. 

Cook.  It  isn't  that,  ma'am,  it's  the  principle  of 
it  we  objeck  to,  Nurse  and  me,  'avin'  always  lived 
in  the  best  fam'lies  with  butler  and  footman  kep', 
and  thoroughly  respectable.  And  if  Master  was 
at  home  'e'd  say  as  much.  Master's  a  thorough 
gentleman.    I  will  sy  that  for  'im. 

[Loud  angry  voice  in  the  distance.'] 

Barbara.  [To  Rosalind  in  a  loud  whisper.] 
It's  the  Papa  ! 

[Enter  The  Papa,  dressed  in  the  early 
Victorian  Doll's  House  "  Papa  "fashion 
— wide  trousers,  red  waistcoat  with  gilt 
buttons,  top  hat  made  of  shiny  black  glazed 
cardboard,  as  though  stuck  on  his  head.] 

The  Papa.  [Incoherent  with  fury.]  What's  this  ! 
What's  this  I've  found  in  the  garden,  Emma  ? 

The  Mamma.  [With  timid  apology.]  Oh,  George  ! 
I  didn't  expect  you  back  to-day.  It's — er — I  don't 
know,  George,  what  it  is. 

The  Papa.  [Rushing  back,  opening  the  door  and 
beckoning.]    Come  in  here,  please. 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  15 

[Enter  The  Fairy.  She  is  a  real  fairy 
now,  and  must  look  as  ethereal  as  pos- 
sible.} 

The  Papa.  [Furiously.]  Now  will  you  tell  me 
who  you  are  ? 

The  Fairy.  [Shaking  her  head.]  I  can't,  if  you 
don't  know. 

The  Papa.  Will  you  tell  me  why  you  are  tres- 
passing in  my  garden  ? 

The  Fairy.  Is  it  your  garden  ?  Did  you 
make  it  ? 

The  Papa.  No,  and  never  wanted  it.  The 
landlords  of  this  place  made  it.  They  must  have 
got  more  money  than  sense. 

The  Fairy.    Who  are  your  landlords  ? 

The  Papa.  How  should  I  know  ?  This  is  a 
respectable  country  where  no  one  makes  stupid 
inquiries  like  that. 

The  Fairy.  Until  they  have  a  grievance.  I'm 
afraid  I'm  a  grievance  ? 

The  Papa.    You're  worse  !    You're  a 

The  Fairy.    A  fairy. 

The  Papa.  I  don't  care  what  you  call  yourself. 
What  are  you  doing  in  my  garden  ? 

The  Fairy.  Your  landlords  put  me  there — as 
a  great  gift  to  you. 

The  Papa.     [Choking  with  anger.]     A  gift !    a 


16  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

gift,  indeed  !  What  were  you  going  to  do  for 
us  ? 

The  Fairy.  A  great  deal.  I  would  have  shown 
you  the  way  to  Fairyland  for  one  thing. 

The  Papa.  [Gasping.]  May  I  show  you  the 
way  to  the  door  ?  [To  the  Mamma.]  What  are 
the  servants  doing  here  ? 

The  Cook.  If  you  please,  sir,  we  'ad  come  to 
give  notice.  Mistress  seemed  to  like  that  there 
inseck  about,  so  Nurse  an'  me,  'avin'  always  lived 
in  'igh  fam'lies,  and  being  thoroughly  respect- 
able 

The  Papa.  You  don't  mean  to  say,  Emma, 
that  you've  actually  encouraged  a — a  mere  fairy — 
in  a  family  like  ours  ? 

The  Mamma.    Well,  George,  I  only 

The  Fairy.  She  was  very  kind.  [Shaking  her 
head.]    But  she'll  never  find  the  way  to  Fairyland. 

The  Papa.  I  should  think  not  !  She's  my  wife. 
[To  servants.]  Go  away,  my  good  women,  and  don't 
be  absurd.  This — er — nuisance  shall  be  removed 
at  once. 

The  Nurse  and  Cook.  [Bobbing.]  Thank  you, 
sir ! 

The  Papa.  For  goodness  sake  stop  sniffing, 
Emma  !    [To  The  Fairy.]    Go  ! 

The  Fairy.    I'm  afraid  it's  not  so  easy. 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  17 

The  Papa.  Why  ?  What  do  you  mean  ? 
The  Fairy.  You  don't  know  your  landlords. 
They  sent  me  here.  Everything  you  have  is  theirs. 
You  hold  it  at  their  pleasure.  They  are  very 
powerful.  If  it  seemed  good  to  them,  they  could 
break  these  walls,  crush  this  furniture — and  crush 
you.    Yes,  in  a  thousand  pieces. 

[The  Mamma  faints  upon  the  sofa,  the 
Cook   and   The   Nurse   lean   limply 
against  the  wall ;  Tommy  and  Angela 
begin  to  cry.    The  Papa  subsides  into  a 
chair.] 
Rosalind.    [In  a  loud  whisper.]    Barbara,  she 
means  us ! 
The  Papa.    [Feebly.]    Is  this  true  ? 
The  Fairy.    Quite  true.    Against  their  will  I 
cannot  leave  you. 

[Barbara  and  Rosalind,  hand  in  hand, 
come  out  into  the  middle  of  the  room.  All 
the  dolls  stare  fixedly  at  them,  standing 
or  sitting  in  rigid  attitudes.  The  chil- 
dren go  and  stand  before  The  Papa.] 
Barbara.  If  you  please,  we  are  the  landlords — 
I  mean  the  landladies. 

The  Papa.  [Falling  on  his  knees,  gasps.]  Spare 
me,  ladies  !  I'm  a  respectable  man  with  a  large 
family. 


18  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

[All  the  other  dolls  go  down  stiffly  on  to 
their  knees,  and  with  clasped  hands  speak 
in  mechanical  tones,  one  after  the  other.] 

The  Mamma.  Kind  ladies,  he  doesn't  mean 
half  he  says.    Spare  him  ! 

Tommy.  Boohoo  1  Boohoo  !  I  only  threw  mud 
on  one  wing.    I  will  be  good  !    I  will  be  good  1 

Angela.  Boohoo  !  I  didn't  throw  nuffin  at  all 
— and  Tommy  made  me. 

The  Nurse.  [Murmuring  in  terror.]  Never 
having  been  where  they  was  kept  before,  I  wasn't 
used  to  them,  kind  ladies 

The  Cook.  Always  keepin'  myself  to  myself — 
and  butler  and  footmen  kep' 

Rosalind.  Don't  be  so  silly.  We're  not  going 
to  hurt  you. 

Barbara.  We'll  ask  the  Fairy  to  come  to  live 
with  us,  if  you  don't  like  her.  [Wistfully.]  We 
thought  you  would — at  least  /  did. 

Rosalind.  [Severely.]  Get  up !  If  you  only 
knew  how  silly  you  looked,  you  wouldn't  go  on 
like  that. 

Barbara.  [Pulling  her  sister's  hand  deprecat- 
ingly.]    Rosalind  ! 

Rosalind.  Well,  they're  only  dolls,  you  know, 
though  they  are  alive. 

[All  the  dolls  rise,  trembling^ 


THE  FAIRY  DOLL  19 

Rosalind.  [Pointing  sternly  to  The  Papa.]  Go 
away  !  You're  a  horrid  man.  [The  Papa  jerks 
himself  abjectly  towards  the  door  R.  The  others 
follow  in  the  order  in  which  Rosalind  addresses 
them.  To  The  Mamma.]  You're  the  nicest.  But 
you  shouldn't  give  way  so  to  the  Papa.  Put 
Tommy  to  bed  for  a  whole  day — with  bread  and 
water.  And  don't  give  Angela  any  jam  for  a  week. 
[To  Tommy,  who  goes  off  howling.]  That  will  teach 
you  to  be  a  better  boy.  [To  Angela.]  And  do 
try  not  to  be  such  a  sneak  !  [To  Cook.]  I  think 
you're  a  perfectly  horrid  cook,  and  if  I  was  the 
Mamma  I  should  send  you  away.  [To  Nurse.] 
And  you're  the  grumpiest  nurse  I  ever  saw.  Fancy 
not  liking  to  take  the  children  in  the  garden  and 
let  the  Fairy  amuse  them.  [She  stamps  her  foot.] 
Go  away,  all  of  you  !  And  if  you  don't  get  nicer, 
we'll  turn  you  out  of  the  Doll's  House,  and  put  in 
another  family.  Anyhow  we  shall  take  away  the 
lovely  garden  we  made  for  you.  You're  not  fit  to 
have  a  garden,  and  you're  not  fit  to  have  a  fairy 
to  live  in  it.  Go  away  !  [She  stamps  again,  and 
the  dolls  huddle  out  of  the  room.] 

[Meanwhile  Barbara,  who  has  been  stand- 
ing by  The  Fairy,  holding  her  hand, 
suddenly  sits  down  on  the  floor,  and 
begins  to  cry.] 


20  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

The  Fairy.  [Bending  over  her.]  What  is  it,  my 
child? 

Barbara.  I'm  so  disappointed.  Rosalind  said 
they  wouldn't  like  you.  She  always  knows.  But 
I  thought  they  would.  And  we  made  such  a 
beautiful  garden 

The  Fairy.  [Smiling.]  Never  mind.  Fairies 
are  not  for  dolls  who  live  in  cardboard  dolls' 
houses  ;  they  are  for  the  people  who  make  gardens. 
Come  and  see  !  [She  draws  the  children  to  the 
window.] 

Barbara.  [Excitedly.]  Rosalind !  I  told  you 
so  !  It's  a  real  garden  !  Oh  !  look  at  the  sun  on 
the  grass,  and  the  big  trees,  and  the  blue  sky  ! 

Rosalind.  And  the  little  path  that  leads  out  of 
the  garden,  under  the  arch  of  roses  !  Look,  it 
winds  up  the  hill  and  over  the  mountains.  [To 
The  Fairy.]    Where  does  it  go  ? 

The  Fairy.  [Smiling.]  All  the  way  to  Fairy- 
land.   Come  !    Let's  go  and  see  ! 

[All  three  move  towards  the  door,  the  chil- 
dren dancing  round  The  Fairy  in  their 
eagerness.] 

Curtain. 


CHRISTMAS  IN  THE  FOREST 


CHRISTMAS    IN  THE 
FOREST 

CHARACTERS 

Hans. 

Gretchen. 

Spring  Fairies. 

Summer  Fairies. 

Autumn  and  Winter  Fairies. 

[The  Summer  and  Autumn  fairies  should  be  played  by  girls 
older  than  those  who  represent  the  fairies  of  Spring  and 
Winter.] 

Scene. — A  cottage  room,  quaintly  furnished,  lighted 
only  by  a  faint  glow  from  the  fire.  Door  R. 
leading  to  the  rest  of  the  house.  Door  L.  opens 
into  the  forest. 

[Enter  Hans  and  Gretchen,  hand  in  hand.] 

Gretchen.    Hush  !    We  must  be  very  quiet. 

Hans.     It's  so  dark.     I'll  light   the  candles. 

[Takes  stick  from  the  fire,  and  with  it  lights  candles 

on  the  chimney-piece,  and  on  table.     The  children, 

who  are  dressed  like  German  children  of  the  olden 

time,  are  seen  to  have  wooden  shoes  in  their  hands.} 

23 


24  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Gretciien.  You  put  your  shoes  on  that  side  of 
the  hearth,  and  I'll  put  mine  here.    So  ! 

[They  place  the  shoes  as  she  suggests.] 

Hans.  [Shivering.]  It's  very  cold  for  fairies. 
Do  you  think  they'll  really  come  ? 

Gretchen.  Yes,  I'm  sure  they  will.  This  is  an 
enchanted  cottage  ;   the  Poet  said  so. 

Hans.    Who  is  the  Poet  ? 

Gretchen.  He's  a  nice  man,  who  stayed  here 
all  the  summer. 

Hans.  Why  did  he  say  this  was  an  enchanted 
cottage  ? 

Gretchen.  Because  it's  right  in  the  middle  of 
the  forest.  All  cottages  in  the  middle  of  a  forest 
are  magic  ones,  he  says. 

Hans.    Did  he  write  poetry,  here  in  this  room  ? 

Gretchen.  Yes,  and  lovely  fairy  stories  too. 
I  used  to  come  and  talk  to  him,  and  tell  him  all 
about  you. 

Hans.    What  did  you  tell  him  ? 

Gretchen.  Oh  !  I  told  him  how  you  were 
coming  here  to  stay  at  Christmas,  and  how  you're 
going  to  write  books  too,  when  you're  grown  up. 

Hans.    What  did  he  say  ? 

Gretchen.  See  !  I've  got  a  letter  from  him. 
[She  takes  it  from  her  pocket.]  It  came  this  morning, 
and  there's  something  about  you  in  it. 


CHRISTMAS  IN  THE  FOREST         25 

Hans.    About  me  ? 

Gretchen.  Listen  !  I'll  read  it  to  you.  He's 
written  round  and  big,  on  purpose  so  that  I  can 
understand. 

[The  children  sit  by  the  fire,  and  she  reads']  : 
"  How  is  the  little  cousin  Hans  who  lives  in  the 
big  city  where  I  hope  one  day  to  meet  him  ?  If  he 
is  with  you  for  the  Christmas  visit,  tell  him,  when 
he's  a  man,  to  write  his  books  in  your  enchanted 
cottage."  [Looking  up  from  the  letter]  There  ! 
you  see. 

Hans.    Go  on. 

Gretchen.  "  Tell  him  that  all  the  fairies  come 
and  visit  it,  and  I'm  not  at  all  surprised,  when  they 
find  a  cottage  like  a  bird's  nest  in  the  middle  of  the 
forest.  Say  that  the  fairies  came  to  me,  as  I  sat 
writing  at  the  open  door  with  the  trees  bending 
down  to  watch  me,  and  the  squirrels  whisking  in 
and  out  at  the  window.  They  whispered  all  sorts 
of  things  to  me,  and  I'm  going  to  write  some  of 
their  secrets  in  a  book,  and  send  it  to  you.  Don't 
forget  to  put  your  shoes  by  the  fireside  on  Christmas 
Eve — you  and  Hans  ;  for  on  that  night,  if  only 
you  were  there  to  see,  the  door  which  leads  into 
the  forest  will  open  and  your  little  room  will 
be  full  of  fairies,  and  when  they  see  the  shoes  on 
the  hearth "    [She  breaks  off]    So  that's  why 


26  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

I  wanted  you  to  come  down  to-night,  when  every 
one  had  gone  to  bed. 

Hans.  [Slowly.]  Yes,  when  I'm  a  man,  I'll 
come  and  write  here  too. 

Gretchen.  Mother  doesn't  believe  in  the 
fairies,  you  know,  and  father  doesn't  either.  He 
says  he's  never  seen  any. 

Hans.    Perhaps  they  only  come  to  poets. 

Gretchen.  Then  we  shan't  see  them — we're 
not  poets. 

Hans.    No,  but  we  want  to  be. 

Gretchen.  Can't  we  do  anything  to  please  them  ? 

Hans.  Let's  put  the  Poet's  letter  on  the  door- 
step. That  may  remind  the  fairies  that  he  lived 
here  all  the  summer. 

Gretchen.  [Eagerly.]  Yes,  and  wrote  the 
loveliest  tales  about  them.  He  used  to  read  them 
to  me.  Oh,  Hans  !  that's  a  good  plan.  I'm  sure 
they'll  come  directly  they  see  his  letter. 

[The  children  run  to  the  door  and  open  it.] 

Hans.  Oh,  see  how  bright  the  moonlight  makes 
the  snow  ! 

Gretchen.  And  don't  the  trees  look  dark 
and  tall  ?  I'm  sure  they're  listening,  Hans  ! 
[Gretchen  stoops  and  puts  the  letter  outside.] 

Hans.  Now  shut  the  door  and  wait.  [In 
whisper.]    See  !   it's  nearly  twelve  o'clock. 


CHRISTMAS  IN  THE  FOREST         27 

Gretchen.  And  everyone's  asleep  but  us. 
[Drawing  closer  to  him.]  Are  you  frightened, 
Hans  ? 

Hans.    Listen  !    Hush  !    They're  coming. 
[Faint  music,  drawing  nearer,  heard  outside.] 

Gretchen.  [Suddenly,  clinging  to  Hans.]  Oh, 
Hans  !    I'm  frightened.    Let's  hide.    Let's  hide. 

[The  children  run  behind  the  settle.] 

[The  door  is  flung  open.  Enter  the  Spring 
Fairies.  They  are  clad  in  robes  of  filmy 
green,  and  carry  branches  of  blossom  and 
spring  flowers. 

One  of  them  says,  or  sings,  the  following]  : 

Hans  and  Gretchen  called  to  us, 
And  directly,  it  was  Spring. 
Hans  and  Gretchen  called  to  us. 
All  the  birds  began  to  sing. 

Daffodils  shone  in  the  grass, 
Frozen  streams  began  to  run. 
Hans  and  Gretchen  called  to  us. 
All  at  once,  out  flashed  the  sun. 

Blue  sky  laughed  between  the  trees. 
Blossom  decked  the  happy  land. 
Hans  and  Gretchen  called  to  us, 
That  was  why,  you  understand  ! 


28  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

[Music  again  without.  Enter  the  Summer 
Fairies,  some  in  rose-colour  robes,  some 
all  in  white,  like  lilies.  They  bear  arm- 
fuls  of  lilies  and  roses. 

One  of  them  says,  or  sings,  the  lines  which 
follow']  : 

Bring  in  the  lilies  and  roses  of  Summer, 

Bring  in  its  fragrance,  colour,  and  bloom, 

Scatter  the  roses,  strew  the  white  lilies, 

Sweet  as  the  thoughts  that  were  born  in  this  room. 

Into  this  quiet  room  stars  have  come  crowding, 
It  has  been  filled  with  the  murmur  of  streams, 
Glittering  rainbows  have  arched  it  with  splendour, 
It  was  the  room  of  a  dreamer  of  dreams. 

[They  join  the  Spring  Fairies.] 

[Music  without.  The  Autumn  Fairies 
enter,  in  robes  of  russet  and  yellow,  like 
autumn  leaves. 

One  of  them  sings,  or  says]  : 

Here  the  dreamer  sang  of  us, 
Fairies  of  the  dying  year. 
All  the  squirrels  gathering  nuts, 
Crowded  round  the  door  to  hear. 

All  the  golden  Autumn  trees 
Listened  through  the  quiet  days. 
Here  the  Poet  dwelt,  and  we 
Come  to-night  to  sing  his  praise. 


CHRISTMAS  IN  THE  FOREST         29 

A  Summer  Fairy.  [To  the  Spring  Fairies.] 
Sister,  who  called  to  you  ? 

A  Spring  Fairy.  The  children  called  to  us. 
Where  are  the  children  ?  For  their  sake  we  are 
here. 

Summer  Fairy.  The  Poet  called  to  us.  Here, 
in  this  little  room,  he  told  the  world  all  the  sweet 
secrets  of  the  summer. 

An  Autumn  Fairy.  We  also  came  because  the 
Poet  called.  Far  off,  in  the  great  noisy  city,  he  sits 
to-night,  and  thinks  of  this,  his  quiet  room,  where 
he  has  sung  of  all  the  beauty  of  the  dying  year. 

A  Spring  Fairy.  And  of  the  children  we  are 
here  to  please.    Where  are  the  children  ? 

Another  Spring  Fairy.  Listen  !  Here  come  the 
Winter  Fairies.  They  too  are  for  the  children,  and 
they  bring  the  Christmas  gifts. 

[Music  without.  Enter  the  Winter 
Fairies,  little  creatures  in  white  robes. 

Between  them  they  bear  a  Christmas  tree, 
covered  with  tapers.  As  they  enter,  they 
look  round  them  for  the  children] 

Little  Hans  and  Gretchen, 
Do  not  hide  away, 
We  are  Winter  fairies, 
And  it's  Christmas  Day  ! 


3o  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

On  either  side  the  fire 
Stands  a  little  shoe. 
Little  Hans  and  Gretchen, 
Somewhere,  then,  are  you  ! 

See,  we  bring  you  presents, 
As  the  Poet  said  ; 
Books  and  dolls  and  sweetmeats, 
Nuts,  and  apples  red. 

Little  Hans  and  Gretchen, 
Ah  !   come  out  and  see  ; 
Best  of  all  your  many  gifts 
Is  the  Christmas  tree  ! 

[The  children,  Hans  holding  Gretchen  's 
hand,  come  from  behind  the  settle.] 

The  Fairies.  The  children  !  Here  are  the 
children  ! 

Hans.  [Shyly.]  Thank  you  very  much  for 
coming. 

Gretchen.  [Running  to  look  at  her  shoe.]  Oh, 
Hans  I  What  lovely  things.  [Looking  round  the 
room.]    I  wish  the  Poet  knew. 

A  Summer  Fairy.  He  does  know.  He's  dream- 
ing the  same  dream. 

Hans.    [Puzzled.]    But  this  is  not  a  dream  ! 

Summer  Fairy.  [Smiling.]  How  do  you  know, 
Hans? 


CHRISTMAS  IN  THE  FOREST         31 

[Music.  The  Fairies  dance,  while  the 
children  sit  together  in  a  big  chair, 
watching.  Presently  the  Fairies  take 
hands  in  a  ring,  and  dance  slowly  round 
them.  The  children  gradually  fall  asleep 
while  a  Summer  Fairy  sings,  or  says, 
the  following]  : 

Sleep,  children,  rest  and  sleep, 
Stars  shall  through  the  window  peep, 
Silver  moon  shall  lend  her  light, 
Through  the  still,  enchanted  night. 

Sleep,  children,  sleep  and  rest, 
Of  Life's  dreams  you  know  the  best. 
Other  dreams  will  fill  the  years, 
Dreams  of  sorrows,  hopes  and  fears. 

Yet  when  all  the  dreams  are  past, 
You  will  smile  and  say  at  last, 
"  We  have  waked  from  love  and  fame — 
Once,  at  least,  the  fairies  came." 

[The  Fairies  steal  from  the  room,  first 
scattering  their  flowers  round  the  sleeping 
children.  Music  gradually  dies  away  in 
the  distance.] 

Curtain. 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS 


THE    CHRISTENING    OF 
ROSALYS 

A    PASTORAL    PLAY    FOR    GROWN-UP    CHILDREN 

CHARACTERS 
The  Nurse. 
The  Queen. 
The  King. 
The  Shepherd  Boy. 
The  Princess. 
Prince  Pompous. 
Hugo. 

5-pirits  of  the  Rose,  the  Lily — Evil  Sprites 

Will  o'  the  Wisp,  etc. 

Scene.— Part  of  the  Palace  garden.  The  garden 
stretches  to  the  outskirts  of  a  wood,  the  fringe  of 
which  touches  the  smooth  lawn  and  the  beds  of 
cultivated  flowers.  Little  paths  through  the 
wood  wander  mysteriously  into  the  distance. 

[Enter,  R.,  into  the  garden,  the  old  Nurse.  She  is 
in  medicBval  dress,  and  leans  on  a  staff,  walking 
slowly.  As  she  comes  she  calls  in  a  quavering 
voice.] 

Xirse.     Rosalys  !     Princess!    Where  are  you, 

child  ?     [Muttering  to  herself]    What  use  to  call  ? 

Who  knows  where  she  is  ?    Dancing  in  fairy  ring, 

maybe  ...  or  playing  with  the  squirrels  in  the 

35 


36  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

forest,  instead  of  sitting  like  a  wise  princess,  there 
in  the  Palace,  listening  while  the  good  Prince  talks 
about  himself. 

[Enter  Queen,  L.  Though  heated  and  dis- 
hevelled, she  is  in  royal  robes,  and  wears 
her  crown  ;  she,  too,  is  calling.] 

Queen.  Rosalys  !  Rosalys  !  [She  is  followed 
at  some  distance  by  the  King,  a  stout,  harassed-look- 
ing  little  individual,  who  carries  his  train  over  his 
arm.  The  Queen  turns  angrily  to  him.]  Why  don't 
you  call  ?  Do  try  to  show  some  dignity  !  You 
let  the  girl  defy  you  !    Call  at  once. 

King.  [Calling  feebly  I]  Rosalys,  my  dear  ! 
Rosalys  !    Come  here.    Your  mother  wants  you. 

Queen.  [Angrily.]  "  Your  mother  wants  you ! " 
So  like  you.  Why  don't  you  summon  her  at  once  ? 
Tell  her  you  forbid  these  antics  !  Command  her 
to  return  this  moment  to  the  Palace,  and  treat  the 
Prince  with  some  civility. 

King.  [Mildly.]  Nothing  would  please  me 
better,  my  dear  love,  if  only  we  could  find  her. 

Queen.  [With  an  angry  exclamation.]  I  have 
no  patience  !  Was  ever  a  poor  mother  tried  like 
me  !  Nurse,  I  appeal  to  you  !  Was  ever  a  princess 
better  trained  than  Rosalys  ?  Was  ever  a  princess 
more  perverse  ? 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS      37 

Nurse.  [Shaking  her  head.]  Ah,  madam.  'Twas 
the  christening — 'twas  the  christening. 

Queen.    Yes — that  was  the  King's  obstinacy. 

King.    [Feebly.]    It  was  the  best  christening. 

Queen.  Yes,  but  some  sprites  must  have  got  in 
as  well.    I  told  you  not  to  have  it  in  the  open  air. 

Nurse.  [Shaking  her  head  again.]  A  princess 
christened  in  a  wood !  'Twas  dangerous,  sire, 
'twas  very  dangerous. 

King.  Why  dangerous,  Nurse  ?  The  Flower 
fairies  came — the  fairies  of  the  lily  and  the  rose 
came  with  their  gifts.  What  better  christening 
could  the  child  have  had  ? 

Nurse.  Ah  !  but  sometimes  the  spirits  of  wild 
woodland  things  come  too.  They  enter  at  the 
baby's  heart,  and  then  it  never  rests. 

Queen.  I  told  you  so.  I  begged  that  we  might 
have  it  in  the  Palace  with  proper  godmothers,  like 
other  folk.  But  no  !  you  would  not  listen.  It 
must  be  out  of  doors,  with  the  rabbits  scampering 
in  the  grass,  and  squirrels  dashing  through  the 
branches  overhead,  and  birds  singing  most  rudety 
all  the  time.  And  besides  these,  who  knows  what 
sprites  about  ?  Will  o'  the  wisps,  and  deadly 
nightshades.  Oh  !  it's  very  plain  the  girl's  be- 
witched— bewitched. 

King.     [Coaxingly.]    My  love,  I  think  you  take 


38  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

the  thing  too  seriously.  The  girl  is  not  so  bad. 
She's  pretty  [chuckling] — and  she's  really  quite 
amusing. 

Queen.  Amusing  !  Amusing  to  throw  away  her 
chances  as  she  does  ?  Oh,  you  men  !  you  drive  me 
wild.  Look  how  I've  worked  to  make  her  pleasing 
even  to  the  humblest  prince.  Powerful  fairies 
to  give  her  beauty — still  more  powerful  fairies 
to  check  her  intellect — fairies  to  instruct  her  in  the 
art  of  pleasing.     How  does  she  repay  me,  Nurse  ? 

Nurse.    She  laughs  at  all  her  suitors,  madam. 

Queen.  In  spite  of  all  my  warnings.  Times  out 
of  number  have  I  said  to  her,  "  Rosalys,  remember 
this.  Among  princes  'tis  a  well-known  fact  that 
princesses  have  no  sense  of  humour.  Why  do  you 
confront  them  with  the  impossible  ?  It's  silly — 
and  it  only  makes  them  angry."  And  even  now, 
when  at  last  she  is  betrothed,  she  does  not  heed  my 
warning. 

Nurse.  No,  madam.  She  laughs  at  Prince 
Pompous  worst  of  all. 

King.  [With  a  slight  chuckle.]  Well,  he's  very 
tempting — er — I  mean,  my  love,  a  foolish  girl — a 
foolish  girl. 

Queen.  Half  an  hour  ago  I  found  the  Prince 
bristling  with  annoyance  at  her  behaviour  at  the 
ball  last  night.    We  shall  lose  him  !    Mark  my  word, 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS      39 

he'll  go.     And  now,  when  Rosalys  might  soothe 
him  with  a  smile  or  two,  she's  nowhere  to  be  found. 
[Calls  angrily.]     Rosalys !     [To   King.]     Go  on 
calling.    It's  the  least  that  you  can  do. 
King.     [Perfunctorily.]    Rosalys ! 

[They  go  out — the  Queen  in  front,  the  King 
lagging  behind,  and  mopping  his  brow.] 
Nurse.  [Leaning  on  her  staff,  and,  shaking  her 
head,  mutters.]  Sometimes  the  spirits  of  wild  wood- 
land things  enter  the  baby's  heart,  and  then  it 
never  rests.  It  never  rests.  [She  goes  out,  mur- 
muring this  to  herself] 

[The  sound  of  a  pipe  is  heard,  and  down 
one  of  the  paths  from  the  wood  comes  a 
lit  tie  Arcadian  shepherd  boy,  a  leopard 
skin  over  one  shoulder,  his  head  crowned 
with  vine  leaves.  He  plays  on  a  pipe  as 
he  comes,  and,  entering  the  garden,  seats 
himself  and  continues  his  music. 

Enter  presently  the  Princess,  and,  running 
across  the  grass,  throws  herself  down  near 
him.  She  wears  a  dress  of  white  brocade, 
and  her  loose,  fair  hair  falls  from  a  little 
medicBval  cap.] 

Princess.     [Breathlessly.]    I  heard  you  piping, 
long  ago.    I  couldn't  find  you.    Oh  !   I've  run  so 


40  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

fast.  [Laughing.]  And  Prince  Pompous  is  in  such 
a  temper  ! 

Shepherd.    I  do  not  pipe  for  you  to-day. 

Rosalys.  [Surprised.]  Not  for  me?  For  whom 
then  ?    [Smiling.]    Not  for  my  mother  ? 

Shepherd.    [Laughing.]    No. 

Rosalys.    Nor  for  the  King,  my  father  ? 

Shepherd.    No,  though  once  he  heard  me. 

Rosalys.    Nor  for  my  dear  old  Nurse  ? 

Shepherd.    Now,  alas,  she  is  too  old. 

Rosalys.    For  anyone  I  know  ? 

Shepherd.    Once  you  knew  him. 

Rosalys.  [Puzzled.]  I  cannot  think.  No 
matter,  he  has  not  come. 

Shepherd.  He  has  so  far  to  come.  I  call  to 
him  across  the  woods,  across  the  hills,  across  the 
seas. 

Rosalys.  [Pouting.]  Don't  call  him.  We 
don't  want  him.    He  will  spoil  our  fun. 

Shepherd.  I  have  called.  He  has  heard.  He's 
on  his  way.    He  must  come  now. 

Rosalys.  Well,  before  he  comes,  what  shall  we 
do  ?  Will  you  take  me  to  the  lonely  meres  to 
watch  the  heron  fishing  ?  Or  shall  we  help  to  pick 
the  grapes  for  harvest  ?  Or  shall  we  go  to  the  cave 
of  the  winds  and  fly  with  them  across  the  sea  and 
make  great   waves,   and   a   tremendous   storm  ? 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS     41 

[Restlessly.]  I  should  like  that  to-day  !  I  should 
like  to  hold  the  hands  of  the  winds— one  on  each 
side — and  rush  and  rush,  and  shout  and  scream 
and  sing. 

Shepherd.    What  would  Prince  Pompous  say  ? 

Rosalys.  [Vehemently.]  Even  if  I  sang  into 
his  ear,  he  wouldn't  know.  He'd  say  the  wind  was 
boisterous ! 

Shepherd.  You'll  never  hear  my  pipe  when  you 
are  married  to  Prince  Pompous. 

Rosalys.  Not  hear  your  pipe  ?  Why,  I  have 
heard  it  all  my  life.  Why,  I  have  heard  it  in  the 
moonlight,  and  danced  to  it  under  the  stars.  And 
in  the  sunshine  I  have  heard  it  too,  and  followed 
it  into  the  green  forest,  and  played  there  with  the 
creatures  of  the  wood.  And  in  the  storm,  and  in 
the  rain,  and  in  the  snow 

Shepherd.  [Shaking  his  head.]  You  will  not 
hear  it  any  more.  [Springing  up.]  I  must  go.  I 
do  not  pipe  for  you  to-day. 

[Goes  out,  L.,  playing  as  he  goes.  Rosalys 
stands  looking  after  him,  perplexed  and 
troubled.  Enter,  R.,  Prince  Pompous. 
His  name  is  appropriate.  He  is  beauti- 
fully dressed,  self-complacent,  and  at  the 
moment  very  ruffled.] 


42  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Prince.  So  here  you  are,  Princess.  I  have  been 
looking  for  you.  Can  it  be  possible  you  have  not 
heard  the — er — cries  of  your  dear  parents  ? 

Rosalys.  [Nonchalantly.']  Oh  !  they  often  cry 
like  that.    It  doesn't  matter. 

Prince.  Pardon  me,  Princess,  it  means  in  this 
case  that  I — er — desire  to  speak  to  you. 

Rosalys.  Well,  now  you  have  a  splendid  oppor- 
tunity. 

Prince.  Er — touching  the  ball  last  night.  You 
seemed  to  find  Prince  Charming  a  very  interesting 
companion. 

Rosalys.  [Provokingly.]  I  found  him  almost 
worthy  of  his  name,  which  is  far  better. 

Prince.  [Stiffly.]  May  I  suggest  that  your 
remark  is  scarcely  worthy  of  a  princess  ? 

Rosalys.  Certainly  you  may.  But  you  won't 
expect  me  to  agree  with  you  ?  If  you  said  Princess 
Violetta  was  charming,  I  might  deplore  your  taste, 
but  I  shouldn't  say  it  was  a  remark  unworthy  of  a 
prince. 

Prince.    That  would  be  quite  a  different  matter. 

Rosalys.  Of  course  it  would,  because  Violetta, 
though  a  good  girl [Pauses  mischievously.] 

Prince.  You  do  not  gather  my  meaning,  Prin- 
cess. There  are  certain  things  not  unbecoming  in 
princes  which  in  princesses  are  unseemly. 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS      43 

Rosalys.  [With  an  air  of  great  interest].  How 
do  you  know  ? 

Prince.  Leave  all  that  to  me,  my  child.  A 
prince  is  always  a  safe  guide  about  such  matters. 

Rosalys.  Why  ?  I  have  known  some  really 
quite  silly  princes. 

Prince.  [Importantly.]  A  prince  is  a  prince  for 
all  that. 

Rosalys.  [With  an  air  of  curiosity.]  Have  you 
a  Scotch  ancestor  by  any  chance  ? 

Prince.  [Huffily.]  You  wander  from  the 
point. 

Rosalys.  [Teasingly.]  Don't  you  find  that 
delightfully  feminine  ?  Seriously,  my  Prince,  it  is 
nice  of  you  to  be  so  jealous.  If  you  go  on  in  this 
way,  I  shall  certainly  fall  in  love  with  you. 

Prince.  [Hastily.]  Jealous?  Never!  Jealousy 
is  an  unworthy  passion.  I  was  merely  looking  at 
the  matter  in  the  abstract. 

Rosalys.  [Reflectively.]  I  think  that's  what  is 
the  matter  with  you. 

Prince.    I  do  not  like  your  mood,  Princess. 

Rosalys.  [Obligingly.]  I'm  sorry,  but  I  can 
change  it  in  a  moment  if  you  wish.  I  have  an 
enormous  number  of  them. 

Prince.  I  was  coming  to  that.  Now  a  princess 
of  many  moods 


44  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Rosalys.  [Sympathetically.]  Must  be  very 
annoying  to  a  prince  with  none. 

Prince.  [Modestly.]  I  think  I  may  say  you  will 
always  find  me  the  same. 

Rosalys.  [Encouragingly .]  Oh  no,  no  !  You 
mustn't  take  a  gloomy  view. 

[The  Prince  looks  at  her  with  disapproval, 
and  at  the  moment  the  voices  of  the  King 
and  Queen  are  again  heard,  calling,  the 
Queen  angrily, the  King  feebly,  Rosalys! 
Rosalys!     The  Nurse  follows  them. 

Enter  the  Queen,  R.  Her  manner  changes 
instantly  to  smiling  sweetness.] 

Queen.  [Playfully  to  King,  who  wearily  follows 
her.]  Ah  !  here  they  are,  the  naughty,  sly  ones  ! 
Billing  and  cooing,  while  we  called  in  vain.  Well ! 
well !  well !  Love's  young  dream,  my  dear. 
We'll  leave  them  to  it. 

Prince.    Madam,  you  err.    I  grieve  to  say  you 

err.    With  much  reluctance,  and  some  pain,  I  here 

renounce  the  honour  of  your  daughter's  hand. 

[To  King.]  I  leave  her,  sire,  to  some  happier  prince, 

more  fortunate  in  pleasing  her  than  I  have  been. 

[He  makes  a  sweeping  bow  to  King  and 

Queen  and  Rosalys,  and  goes  out  in 

a  dignified  manner.] 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS      45 

Queen.  [Impulsively.]  Stop,  Prince !  [She 
makes  a  movement  to  follow  him.] 
King.  [Restraining  her.]  My  love  ! 
Queen.  [Turning  furiously  to  Rosalys.]  Un- 
worthy child.  And  now  he'll  go  and  marry  Prin- 
cess Violetta — a  plain  girl,  and  her  mother  a 
detestable  woman.  ...  Oh  !  I  have  done  with 
you  !  A  prince  that  every  princess  envied,  a  solid 
prince,  a  prince  with  a  good  income,  thrown  away  ! 
Recklessly  thrown  away  before  my  eyes,  before 
the  eyes  of  all  the  Court  !  After  all  my  plans,  after 
my  sleepless  nights,  after  incessant  work.  I've 
done  with  you  !  Do  what  you  please  !  Be  clever 
if  you  please — it's  useless  to  disguise  it  any  longer. 
I  wash  my  hands  of  you.  [To  King.]  Come  with 
me  !  If  I  leave  you  here,  you'll  side  with  her. 
Come  at  once,  I  say  ! 

[She  sweeps  away,  followed  by  the  King.] 
[Rosalys  has  seated  herself  on  a  bench. 
She  keeps  her  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground 
during  the  Queen's  address.    When  her 
parents    have   gone,    she   turns    to    the 
Nurse  between  laughter  and  tears] 
Rosalys.     Well !    he's  gone.     Ought  I  to  be 
sorry,  Nurse  ?     He  bored  me  so.     [Sighs.]     And 
yet  to  settle  down  and  be  a  queen  would  save  a  lot 
of  trouble.    Why  can't  I,  Nurse  ?    Why  don't  I  ? 


46  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Nurse.  The  christening,  Rosalys — the  christen- 
ing ! 

Rosalys.  Is  that  what  it  is  ?  Is  that  why  I 
want  the  stars  out  of  the  sky — the  sun  out  of 
heaven  ?    Is  that  why  I  want — blue  roses  ? 

Nurse.  Yes,  but  one  can  learn  to  do  without 
them.  One  can  learn  to  forget  even  that  the  sky 
has  stars,  or  that  there  is  a  sun  in  heaven. 

Rosalys.    But  I  don't  want  to,  Nurse  ! 

Nurse.  Ah  !  You're  but  young.  Wait,  wait  ! 
[Listening.]  The  Queen  is  calling  me.  I  must  go. 
Stay  you  here,  Princess.  I  should  avoid  my  lady 
mother  yet  awhile,  if  I  were  you. 

[Nurse  goes  out.  Princess,  looking  after 
her,  first  laughs  a  little,  then  suddenly 
breaks  into  tears.  She  gets  up  and 
wanders  disconsolately  away,  L. 

The  Shepherd's  pipe  is  heard,  and 
presently  he  emerges  from  the  icood, 
dancing  down  the  path.  After  a  moment 
a  young  man  breaks  through  the  trees, 
following.  He  is  tall  and  strong,  and  he 
wears  the  dress  of  a  hunter — a  knife  at 
his  side,  and  a  spear  in  his  hand. 

The  boy  goes  on  playing,  and  the  new- 
comer seats  himself  and  watches  him.] 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS      47 

Hugo.    Who  are  you,  shepherd  boy  ? 

Boy.    [Nonchalantly]    I  don't  know. 

Hugo.    Where  do  you  come  from  ? 

Boy.    From  Arcady. 

Hugo.  [Thoughtfully.]  I,  too,  was  once  in 
Arcady. 

Boy.    Yes  ;  that  is  why  ycu  heard  my  pipe. 

Hugo.  I  did  not  mean  to  follow.  I'm  going 
to  the  Palace.  Young  rascal  with  your  pipe,  you've 
made  me  lose  my  way  ! 

Boy.    But  here  begins  the  Palace  garden. 

Hugo.  [Starts,  and  looks  about  him.]  Can  it 
be  ?     [As  though  gradually  remembering.]    It  is  so 

long    ago — and    yet Yes  ! — yes  !      [eagerly 

pointing]  there  is  the  tree  I  climbed  to  hide  her 
doll,  that  I  might  see  her  storm  and  rage.  In  that 
wood  we  shared  the  games  of  hares  and  birds. 

Here,  on  this  lawn [Amazed.]    Why,  shepherd 

boy,  we  played  with  you  ! 

Boy.  She  has  not  forgotten  me.  It's  you  she 
has  forgotten  ! 

Hugo.    [With  determination.]    I  will  remind  her. 

Boy.  You  may  not  like  her  now.  None  of  the 
princes  like  her. 

Hugo.    [Laughing.]    She  has  not  altered,  then  ? 

Boy.  No,  and  she  will  not  alter.  Evil  sprites 
as  well  as  fairies  came  to  the  christening. 


48  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Hugo.  [Thoughtfully.]  I  know — I  know. 
Boy.  To-day  is  eighteen  years  since  all  the 
spirits  came  to  yonder  wood,  where  she  lay  sleep- 
ing in  her  cradle.  [Nodding  towards  the  wood.} 
They  are  all  there  now.  Every  year  they  come 
to  dance  about  the  spot.  My  pipe  will  call  them. 
Would  you  see  ? 

Hugo.    [Gravely.]    Yes — call  them  all. 

[The  Boy  plays  on  his  pipe,  and  from  the 
wood  emerges  a  throng  of  beings,  some 
beautiful,  some  wild  and  mischievous, 
some  evil-looking.  They  take  hands,  and 
dance  together  in  wild  confusion.  Pre- 
sently two  spirits  step  from  the  crowd. 
They  are  both  beautiful.  One  is  the 
Spirit  of  the  Rose,  and  the  other  the 
Spirit  of  the  Lily.    They  sing.] 

[Together.] 
Rose  and  Lily,  Lily  and  Rose, 
\Ye  met  at  the  christening  of  Rosalys. 
Then,  as  she  lay  in  the  whispering  wood, 
Each  of  us  gave  her  a  kiss. 


Lily. 


I  am  the  Lily  ; 

I  give  you  my  whiteness, 

Give  you  my  gold  for  your  shining  hair  ; 

Give  you  my  grace  for  your  slender  body 

Trust  me,  Baby,  you  shall  be  fair  ! 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS     49 

Rose. 

I  am  the  Rose  ; 

I  give  you  my  sweetness, 

Give  you  my  red  for  your  cheeks  and  mouth  ; 

Give  you  my  colour,  my  life,  my  power, 

Baby,  rocked  by  the  wind  of  the  south  ! 

[Together.] 

Thus  we  sang  when  we  met  at  the  christening, 
Met  at  the  christening  of  Rosalys  ; 
Child  with  the  name  of  roses  and  lilies, 
Each  of  us  gave  you  a  kiss. 

[Will  0'  the  Wisp  and  an  evil  sprite  sing.] 

Will  o'  the  Wisps, 

And  Spirits  of  Evil, 

We  met  at  the  christening  of  Rosalys  ; 

Hand  in  hand  we  danced  round  her  cradle, 

Each  of  us  gave  her  a  kiss. 

[All  the  spirits.] 
Wildness  and  beauty, 
Terror  and  goodness, 
Met  at  the  christening  of  Rosalys  ; 
Child  with  the  name  of  roses  and  lilies, 
All  of  us  gave  you  a  kiss. 

[Dancing  wildly  together,  the  spirits  fade 
away  into  the  wood.] 

Hugo.  [To  himself.]  Yes,  my  poor  little  Prin- 
cess. It  makes  things  difficult  when  the  fairies 
come  to  the  christening  ! 

E 


50  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Boy.  You  can  yet  go  back.  Many  princesses, 
I  am  told,  still  have  the  usual  godmothers. 

Hugo.     [Laughing.]    You  are  precocious,  boy  ! 
Though  you  were  born  two  thousand  years  ago, 
do  not  on  that  account  presume  to  teach  your 
elders. 
Boy.    Then  I  will  call  the  Princess. 

[Puts  his  pipe  to  his  lips,  and  goes  fluting 
towards  the  ivood,  where  he  is  lost  to  sight. 

Enter  the  Princess,  L.,  looking  about  her 
as  though  following  the  music.  She 
stops  short  at  the  sight  of  Hugo.] 

Hugo.  [Rising  and  looking  at  her  fixedly.  Speaks 
at  last  in  a  soft  voice.]  I  thought  the  Lily  fairy  had 
come  back. 

Rosalys.  [At  first  puzzled,  understands  and 
smiles.]    Do  you  think  so  now  ? 

Hugo.    No. 

Rosalys.    Why  not  ? 

Hugo.    Because  of  the  sprites  in  your  eyes. 

Rosalys.    [Laughs.]    Who  are  you  ? 

Hugo.    I  am  a  Discoverer. 

Rosalys.    But  are  you  a  prince  ? 

Hugo.    You  must  be  a  discoverer  now. 

Rosalys.    That's  rather  a  good  idea. 

Hugo.    [Calmly.]    I  am  full  of  them. 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS      51 

Rosalys.  [With  dignity.]  You  are  trespassing, 
as  I  suppose  you  know. 

Hugo.    That  is  one  of  my  best  ideas. 

Rosalys.    [Weakly.]    What  have  you  come  for  ? 

Hugo.    For  you. 

Rosalys.    [Gasping.]    But  I  don't  know  you  ! 

Hugo.  That  doesn't  matter.  No  one  knows 
anyone.  But  if  you  mean  you've  never  seen  me 
before Oh  !  you  silly  child  ! 

Rosalys  [stares  at  him  incredulously,  then 
whispers]  :   Hugo  ! 

Hugo.  [Smiling.]  Yes.  I  was  the  forester's 
little  boy.    I'm  his  big  boy  now. 

Rosalys.  Do  you  remember  how  we  used  to 
play — and  how  I  screamed  and  fought  because  at 
last  they  would  not  let  me  see  you  any  more  ? 

Hugo.  But  I  told  you  I  should  come  back  one 
day,  and  take  you  to  my  kingdom.    Did  you  forget  ? 

Rosalys.  Your  kingdom  ?  I  didn't  know  you 
had  a  kingdom. 

Hugo.  [Rather  grimly .]  I've  made  one.  Come! 
[He  holds  oat  his  hand.] 

Rosalys.  [Drawing  back.]  Oh  !  but  this  is 
ridiculous. 

Hugo.  [Shrugging  his  shoulders.]  We'll  discuss 
it,  if  you  please.    But  it's  waste  of  time. 

Rosalys.     [Agitatedly.]     I  don't  in   the  least 


52  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

know  what  you're  like  now.  You  were  a  very 
annoying  little  boy,  I  remember. 

Hugo.  You  were  a  most  exasperating  little 
girl — and  I'm  sure  you  haven't  improved.  On  the 
whole  I  think  my  risk  is  greater  than  yours. 

Rosalys.    [Firing  up.]    You  are  not  polite  ! 

Hugo.    [Readily  agreeing.]    No. 

Rosalys.  I  don't  think  you're  a  young  princess's 
ideal  at  all. 

Hugo.  I'm  quite  sure  I'm  not.  Think  how  you 
would  hate  me  if  I  were.  [He  looks  at  her  and 
laughs.]    Don't  be  a  humbug,  darling. 

Rosalys.  [Looking  down  at  the  points  of  her 
shoes.]    You'd  be  shocked  if  I  wasn't. 

Hugo.  A  Discoverer  is  never  shocked.  He 
makes  too  many  discoveries. 

Rosalys.  I  don't  think  I  should  be  bored  with 
you. 

Hugo.    Come  !   that's  something. 

Rosalys.  [Sighing  doubtfully.]  Should  I  find 
blue  roses  in  your  kingdom  ? 

Hugo.  [Gently.]  No.  But  there  will  be  nothing 
to  prevent  you  from  looking  for  them. 

Rosalys.    You  wouldn't  think  me  mad  ? 

Hugo.  No.  I  shall  know  you  can't  help  it — 
because  the  fairies  came  to  your  christening. 
Come  ! 


THE  CHRISTENING  OF  ROSALYS     53 

Rosalys.  [Hesitating.]  But  how  shall  we  get 
there  ? 

Hugo.  Have  you  forgotten  the  river  at  the 
back  of  the  wood  ? — our  river,  with  its  reeds  and 
willow-herbs  ?  My  boat  is  there.  Come  !  We  will 
glide  between  the  lilies  and  forget-me-nots,  and 
reach  the  sea,  and  then  at  last  my  kingdom,  where 
you  and  I  will  reign. 

Rosalys.    [Hesitating.]    Oh  !   but  I 

Hugo.    [Suddenly  goes  close  and  kisses  her.]    Will 
you  come  now  ? 
Rosalys.    [Shyly.]    Yes. 

[Hugo  puts  his  arm  round  her,  and  is 
turning  towards  the  wood  when  the  spirits 
surround  them,  and,  taking  hands,  for  a 
moment  encircle  them,  dancing,  laughing, 
and  singing.] 

Wildness  and  beauty, 

Terror  and  goodness, 

Met  at  the  christening  of  Rosalys  ; 

Child  with  the  name  of  roses  and  lilies, 

All  of  us  gave  you  a  kiss. 

[They  fade  away  R.  and  L.,  and  at  the 
entrance  to  the  wood  stands  the  shepherd 
boy.  He  turns,  and  piping  as  he  goes, 
leads  the  way.  Hugo  and  the  Princess 
follow,  and  are  presently  lost  to  sight. 
As  they  go  Hugo  sings.] 


54  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Hugo's   Song. 

At  early  dawn  we  climbed  the  hill, 

Rosalys  and  I  ; 
The  trees  stood  silent  in  amaze 

To  see  us  passing  by. 

For  we  had  met  a  shepherd  boy, 
A  shepherd  with  his  flute  ; 

To  hear  the  melodies  he  played, 
The  very  birds  were  mute. 

The  very  birds  were  mute  ;  the  hares 
Sat  watching  in  the  grass, 

The  butterflies  with  outspread  wings 
Flew  near  to  see  us  pass. 

At  early  dawn  we  climbed  the  hill, 

Rosalys  and  I  ; 
The  Shepherd  lad  was  with  us 

When  the  sun  rose  in  the  sky. 

He's  with  us,  now  the  splendid  sun 
Floods  all  the  world  with  light  ; 

He'll  stay,  till  with  a  crown  of  stars 
And  gentle  step,  comes  night. 


THE   ENCHANTED   GARDEN 


THE    ENCHANTED 
GARDEN 


Nancy. 

Cynthia  (her  doll) 
Lubin 
Amaryllis 
Six  Daisies. 
Cupid. 


CHARACTERS 

:  doll). 

\  (Shepherd  and  Shepherdess). 


Scene. — An  old-fashioned  garden.  Enter  Nancy, 
a  little  girl  of  seven  or  eight.  She  has  a  doll 
under  one  arm  and  a  book  under  the  other.  She 
seats  herself,  puts  her  doll  in  the  corner  of  the 
bench,  and  begins  to  talk  to  it. 

Nancy.  Sit  there,  Cynthia,  and  talk  to  me. 
You've  got  a  silly  expression  to-day — just  like 
Jane  when  she  pretends  not  to  hear  a  word  Mother 
says  to  her.  And  you  know  you  do  hear,  perfectly 
well.  Are  you  listening  ?  [She  makes  the  doll  speak 
in  a  hurt  voice.] 

57 


58  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Cynthia.    Yes.    But  don't  be  cross  with  me  ! 

Nancy.  [Embracing  her.]  No,  darling  !  Mother 
won't  be  cross  to  her  dear  Cynthia.  There  !  that's 
right.  Now  you  look  a  bright,  intelligent  child- 
like /  have  to  look  when  I  go  to  see  Aunt  Sophie. 
Now  listen,  Cynthia  !  I  want  to  tell  you  something. 
[Impressively.]  It's  a  great  secret.  You  won't  tell 
anyone,  will  you  ? 

Cynthia.    Mayn't  I  tell  Mademoiselle  ? 

Nancy.  [Shaking  her  violently.]  Certainly  not  ! 
Do  try  to  have  a  little  sense,  child  !  Not  anyone  ! 
And  especially  not  Mademoiselle.  Do  you  under- 
stand ?  .  .  .  Very  well  !  Now  there's  nothing  to 
cry  about.  I  shan't  tell  you  if  you  cry.  .  .  .  That's 
right.  Now  listen.  [Very  impressively.]  I'm  quite 
sure  this  is  an  enchanted  garden  ! 

Cynthia.    Oh,  Mother  !    Why  ? 

Nancy.  [With  a  matronly  manner.]  You  may 
well  ask,  my  child  !  [Relapsing  into  her  own  voice.] 
Because  I  had  a  lovely  dream  about  it  last  night. 
I  dreamt  that  all  the  people  I  want  to  be  real  people 
came  into  this  garden,  and  were  real  people.  .  .  . 
Now  don't  pretend  you  don't  know  what  I  mean, 
Cynthia  !  You  know  quite  well !  There's  the  little 
painted  boy  and  girl  on  the  tea-pot  in  the  drawing- 
room  cabinet,  and  the  flower  fairies  in  that  book 
Uncle  Jack  gave  me,  and  the  statue  of  the  dear 


THE  ENCHANTED  GARDEN  59 

little  blind  boy  with  the  bow  and  arrows  in  Uncle 
Jack's  library.    You  remember  it  ? 

Cynthia.    Yes,  Mother. 

Nancy.  Well !  I  dreamt  it  quite  plainly.  And 
they  all  came  here  because  they  said  this  was  an 
enchanted  garden.  And  [looking  round]  I  believe 
it  is  !  [With  a  sigh.]  Oh,  Cynthia  !  it's  such  a 
sleepy  day,  isn't  it  ?  And  I've  got  my  poetry  to 
learn.  [She yawns.]  But  I  know  some  of  it.  Made- 
moiselle said  I  might  choose  a  piece  [opens  book, 
and  points],  and  I've  chosen  this.  You  shall  hear 
me  as  far  as  I  know.  [Puts  book  on  doll's  lap.] 
There  now  !  hold  it  properly.  And  don't  stop  me 
for  the  "  and's  "  and  "  the's,"  like  Mademoiselle 
generally  does.  It's  so  worrying.  [Folds  her  hands 
and  begins.] 

If  we  believed  in  fairies  still, 
The  fairies  would  be  there  ; 
It's  only  when  we  laugh  at  them 
They  are  not  anywhere. 

Directly  we  are  sure  they're  true, 
They  all  come  back  and  play, 
In  woods,  in  gardens,  and  in  fields 
We  see  them  every  day. 

But  if  we  say  they  are  not  there, 
Of  course  they  go  away, 
It's  just  what  you  and  I  would  do 
If  we  weren't  asked  to  stay. 


60  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

They  think  it's  rude,  and  so  it  is. 
My  garden  shall  be  free 
To  anyone  from  Fairyland 
Who  wants  to  play  with  me. 

[She  leans  back  sleepily.]    I  don't  think  I  know  the 
last  verse.    [Yawns.] 

If  I  should 

Tell  me,  Cynthia  !    [Very  sleepily.] 

If  I 

[Her  eyes  close  ;  she  sinks  back  against  the 
bench,  asleep.] 

[Faint  music.  Enter  R.  and  L.  a  little 
Dresden  shepherd  and  shepherdess.  They 
seat  themselves  in  china-figure  attitudes 
one  on  each  arm  of  the  bench,  upon  which 
Nancy  is  sleeping.  The  boy  puts  his 
pipe  to  his  lips  [music  continues]. 
Nancy  begins  to  rouse,  rubbing  her 
eyes.  Presently  she  sits  upright,  and 
looks  from  one  figure  to  the  other.  Then 
she  smiles,  and  claps  her  hands.  Both 
figures  remain  very  still.] 

Nancy.  I  knew  it  was  an  enchanted  garden  ! 
You  are  the  little  boy  and  girl  on  the  teapot  ! 
Now  where  do  you  really  live  ? 


THE  ENCHANTED  GARDEN  61 

Lubin.    In  the  Porcelain  Country. 
Nancy.    Is  it  nice  there  ? 
Amaryllis.     Not  very.     You  have  to  be  so 
careful. 

Lubin.    You  see,  at  any  moment  it  might  smash 
to  atoms. 

Nancy.  That's  how  you've  learnt  to  sit  so  still, 
I  suppose  ?  I'm  rather  glad  /  don't  live  there. 
I  should  be  broken  by  this  time,  shouldn't  I  ? 
Amaryllis.  Into  a  thousand  pieces  ! 
Nancy.  [Eagerly.]  But  do  tell  me  what  you're 
saying  to  one  another  when  you  sit  on  the  teapot  ? 
I've  always  longed  to  know. 

Lubin.    We'll  do  it  if  you  like,  but  [to  shepherdess] 
we're  awfully  tired  of  it,  aren't  we  ? 
Amaryllis.    Awfully. 
Lubin.    [With  a  sigh.]    Come  along  ! 

[They  get  down  from  the  arms  of  the  bench 
very  carefully,  as  though  afraid  of  break- 
ing. The  boy  kneels  before  the  shep- 
herdess, who  turns  coyly  away  in  a 
Dresden-china  attitude.    Faint  music. 

Lubin  says,  or  sings]  : 

Amaryllis,  fair  and  sweet, 
See  your  Lubin  at  your  feet. 
Do  not  scorn  your  silly  swain 
Stung  by  Cupid's  dart  again. 


62  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

[To  Nancy.] 

Shepherds  have  to  play  this  game, 
It's  very  boring  all  the  same. 

Amaryllis. 

Lubin,  are  you  sure  you're  true  ? 
Can  Amaryllis  trust  in  you  ? 
Swains  who  have  been  hurt  before 
Cupid  teases  o'er  and  o'er. 

[To  Nancy.] 

Shepherdesses  have  to  say 
Stupid  things  like  this  all  day. 

LUBIN. 

Let  us  get  it  over  soon. 
Leave  out  all  about  the  moon, 
Stars  and  eyes  and  Cupid's  wings, 
And  the  broken  hearts  and  things. 

Amaryllis. 

That's  the  way,  you  understand, 
We  must  talk  in  Porcelain  land. 

[Lubin  springs  tip.] 

Here,  we  are  not  china  toys, 
We  can  just  be  girls  and  boys  ! 

Amaryllis.    Oh,  we've  forgotten  our  dance  ! 
Lubin.     [Wearily.]    Come  along !    [They  dance 

a  gavotte.] 


THE  ENCHANTED  GARDEN  63 

Lubin.  [To  Nancy.]  We  always  forget  we 
needn't  be  careful  here. 

Amaryllis.  No,  here  we  can  run  and  jump  on 
real  green  grass,  and  pick  real  roses,  and  play  with 
real  lambs — not  horrid  knobbly  china  ones  ! 

Nancy.  Do  you  often  come  here  ?  People 
never  see  you. 

Lubin.  No,  that's  because  they're  silly,  and 
don't  believe  in  us.  Why,  every  fine  day  the 
garden's  fall  of  us.  [Carelessly.]  Here  come  the 
Daisies.    They're  not  bad  to  play  with. 

[Enter,  R.,  skipping  and  dancing,  six  little 
daisy-fairies.] 

ist  Daisy.  Well,  Lubin  !  [She  rans  to  him, 
takes  his  hands,  and  whirls  him  round.] 

2ND  Daisy.  Well,  Amaryllis  !  What  shall  we 
play  ? 

Amaryllis.  It's  only  Nancy.  She's  one  of  the 
people  who  can  see  us. 

ist  Daisy.  Oh!  the  wind's  blowing !  the  wind's 
blowing  !    We  must  dance  ! 

[Daisy  ballet.] 

4TH  Daisy.  What  a  long  time  you've  been 
seeing  us,  Nancy  !  Why,  we're  always  playing 
about  the  garden — pretending  to  be  daisies. 

Nancy.    Yes,  but  you  pretend  so  well !    When 


64  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

you  sit  quite  still  on  the  lawn,  how  am  I  to  know 
you're  not  really  daisies  ? 

5th  Daisy.  If  you  whispered  to  us  we  should 
laugh.    We  couldn't  help  it. 

Nancy.  What  a  good  plan  !  I  shall  always  try 
that  now. 

6th  Daisy.  What  shall  we  play  ?  If  Nancy 
wants  any  other  people  we  might  call  them.  You 
see  she  doesn't  know  us  all  yet. 

The  Others.    Yes.    Who  shall  we  call  ? 

Nancy.    Let  me  see [Suddenly.]    The  poor 

little  blind  boy  with  the  wings  and  the  bow  and 
arrows. 

Lubin.  [Carelessly.]  Oh !  Cupid.  He  isn't 
really  blind,  you  know. 

All.    [Calling.]    Cupid  !  Cupid  !  Cupid  ! 

[Enter  Cupid,  bandage  over  his  eyes,  bow 
and  arrows.] 
Cupid.     [Standing  in  the  midst  of  them.]     Are 
there  any  grown-up  people  here  ? 

Lubin.  No,  only  me,  Amaryllis,  and  the  Daisies, 
and  Nancy. 

Cupid.  [Throws  off  his  bandage.]  That's  all 
right.  Now  I  can  take  this  off  and  have  a 
holiday. 


THE  ENCHANTED  GARDEN  65 

Nancy.  [Looking  at  him  with  interest.]  Then 
you're  not  really  blind,  little  boy  ? 

Cupid.  No,  of  course  not.  It's  one  of  the  silly 
things  grown-up  people  think. 

Nancy.  But  why  don't  you  tell  them  you 
can  see  ? 

Cupid.    They  wouldn't  like  it. 

Nancy.  How  funny !  They  ought  to  be 
glad.  What  do  you  shoot  with  your  bow  and 
arrows  ? 

Cupid.    Grown-up  people. 

Nancy.    [Horrified.]   Cupid !    How  cruel  of  you. 

Cupid.  [Indifferently.]  They  don't  seem  to 
mind. 

Nancy.    But  do  you  kill  them  ? 

Cupid.    [Cheerfully.]    Oh  no  ! — never. 

Nancy.  But  aren't  they  very  angry  when  you 
shoot  them  ?    What  do  they  do  ? 

Cupid.  Lubin  and  Amaryllis  will  show  you. 
I'll  shoot  them,  and  you'll  see. 

[He  draws  his  bow  and  shoots.  Lubin 
and  Amaryllis  stand  in  china-figure 
attitudes,  and  make  love  in  dumb 
show.] 

Nancy.  Oh  !  they're  always  playing  that.  I 
think  it's  a  silly  game  !  Let's  have  Blind  Man's 
Buff. 


66  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

All.     Yes!     Yes!     Cupid  shall  be  blind  man. 

[They  tie  bandage  round  his  eyes,  and 
run  about  him,  laughing.  (Music.) 
Cupid  finally  catches  Nancy.] 

All.    Nancy  !    Nancy  !    Cupid's  caught  her. 

[He  lakes  off  bandage  and  ties  it  round 
Nancy's  eyes.  All  take  hands  round 
her,  and  one  sings]  : 

Nancy's  "  blind  man," 

Cupid's  caught  her, 

She  will  not  forget  ; 

All  the  charming  games  we've  taught  her, 

She'll  remember  yet. 

Through  life's  fair  and  stormy  weather 

She'll  think  how  we  played  together. 

Nancy's  "  blind  man," 

Cupid's  caught  her, 

She  will  not  forget. 

[As  the  song  goes  on  they  gradually  move 
away  R.  andL.  Cupid  creeps  near,  and, 
standing  on  tiptoe,  kisses  Nancy;  then, as 
she  tries  to  grasp  him,  runs  away  laugh- 
ing, and  disappears  with  the  rest.  Nancy 
gropes  her  way  to  the  bench,  and  sleepily 
pulls  handkerchief  from  her  eyes.  She 
leans  back  with  her  eyes  closed.  Music 
gradually  dies  away.] 


THE  ENCHANTED  GARDEN  67 

[Voice  presently  calls]  Nancy!  Nancy!  Come 
and  say  your  poetry. 

Nanxy  [rousing,  looks  round  her  in  a  dazed  way, 
and  snatches  up  open  book.  Glancing  at  the  page, 
she  repeats  hurriedly  to  herself] : 

.  .  .  My  garden  shall  be  free 
To  anyone  from  Fairyland 
Who  wants  to  play  with  me. 

[As  she  is  preparing  to  run  out,  she  sees 
a  broken  daisy-chain  on  the  grass.  Pick- 
ing it  up  joyfully  it  is  clear  that  she 
"remembers."  She  kisses  her  hand  to  in- 
visible folk,  and  runs  out  calling]  : 

Coming,  Mamselle  ! 


THE   STRANGE   BOY 


THE    STRANGE    BOY 


CHARACTERS 

Betty         \  (Children  who  are  brought 
Pat  /      up  together.) 

Kathleen  \ 

Kenneth       (Their  little  friend,). 

Di  ) 

Jane.  The  Housemaid. 

The  Strange  Boy. 


Scene. — The  Schoolroom.  A  large  map  on  the  wall. 
A  bookcase  with  school  books,  and  a  blackboard 
in  one  comer.  The  room  is,  however,  pretty  and 
bright.  Flowers  in  pots  on  the  window-sill. 
Pictures  on  the  wall.  Door  centre.  Another 
door  R.  Window  /..  A  table  {not  too  big  to  be 
lifted  by  the  children)  is  laid  for  a  birthday  tea. 
Cake  in  the  middle  of  the  table.  Flowers  round 
it.    A  tea  service  of  very  small  cups  and  saucers. 

Door  R.  opens,  and  Betty  comes  running  in.  She  is 
dressed  in  white,  as  for  a  party.  She  goes  up  to 
the  tea-table,  and  delightedly  looks  at  the  decora- 

7i 


72  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

tions,  rearranges  the  tea-cups,  etc.  Voices  out- 
side. Betty  runs  to  door,  and  admits  two  little 
girls  about  her  own  age. 

Dolly  and  Kathleen.  [Together.]  Many 
happy  returns  of  the  day. 

Kathleen.  [Giving  a  little  parcel.]  Here's  our 
present. 

Betty.  [Unwrapping  it.]  Oh  !  how  sweet ! 
It's  just  what  I  wanted  for  the  Doll's  House.  [She 
kisses  both  of  them.]    Thank  you,  ever  so  much. 

Dolly.  [Looking  round.]  Is  this  your  school- 
room ?    It's  much  nicer  than  ours.    Ours  is  horrid. 

Kathleen.    Do  you  have  a  governess  ? 

Betty.    Yes.    A  Mademoiselle. 

Dolly.  [Apprehensively .]  Is  she  coming  in  to 
tea? 

Betty.  No.  Isn't  it  lovely  ?  We're  going  to 
be  quite  alone  all  the  afternoon.  Mother  said  we 
might.  She's  gone  out,  and  so  has  Mademoiselle, 
and  we're  going  to  have  tea  all  by  ourselves,  and 
I'm  going  to  pour  out.  Look  !  We've  got  the  dear 
little  tea-set.  [She  draws  the  children  to  look  at  the 
table.] 

Kathleen.  Oh,  see  !  What  a  pretty  cake  ! 
White  with  green  letters  on  it.  [Reading.]  Betty 
and  Pat :  Who's  Pat  ? 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  73 

Betty.  [Staring,  and  then  laughing.]  Why — 
Pat.  I  forgot.  You  don't  know  Pat  ?  He's  a  sort 
of  cousin.  [Ruefully.']  He's  been  away,  at  his 
uncle's  house  in  the  country,  ever  since  the  day  I 
got  to  know  you. 

Dolly.  Well,  that  isn't  very  long.  Only  a 
week. 

Betty.  It  seems  millions  and  millions  of  years 
since  he  went  away.  It's  always  perfectly  horrid 
without  Pat.  [Joyfully.]  But  he's  coming  back 
this  afternoon  on  purpose  for  the  birthday  tea. 

Kathleen.  Why  does  he  have  his  name  on  your 
birthday  cake  ? 

Betty.  Because  it's  his  birthday  too.  Only 
he's  a  year  older  than  me.  We  always  keep  them 
together.  Look  what  he  sent  me  this  morning. 
[Shows  a  book.]  It's  a  lovely  Fairy  book.  And  I 
gave  him  a  dormouse.  We  have  lessons  together 
with  Mademoiselle,  all  except  Latin.  And  he's 
awfully  naughty  sometimes,  only  you  mustn't  tell 
papa.  Directly  Mademoiselle  sees  him,  she  looks 
up  to  the  ceiling  like  this,  and  says,  "  Mon  Dieu  !  " 
and  then  he  draws  French  cats  with  bows  round 
their  necks,  on  the  blackboard,  and  then 

Dolly.    He  sounds  awfully  nice. 

Betty.  So  he  is,  except  when  he  teases  me,  and 
then  he's  horrid.     But  he  can  make  up  lovely 


74  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

exciting  games  and  stories  about  fairies  and  pixies 
and  things.  Only  never  when  there  are  other 
people.  Then  he  slashes  about  with  a  stick,  you 
know,  just  like  boys  do,  and  pretends  to  be  very 
grand,  and  likes  hunting  cats  and  shooting  with 
catapults,  and  hating  girls — just  to  show  he's  a 
boy.  But  really  he  isn't  a  bit  nasty  like  that.  And 
when  we  get  grown  up  we're  going  to  have  a  little 
house  in  the  very  middle  of  the  forest,  and  tame 
squirrels,  and  have  them  to  breakfast  with  us. 
And  when  it's  moonlight  we  shall  go  out  and  watch 
the  fairies  dancing,  and 

Kathleen.  [Scornfully.]  There  aren't  any 
fairies. 

Betty.  Not  in  England.  There  are  in  Ireland 
— heaps.  And  Pat  and  I  are  Irish.  And  we  both 
had  our  sleeves  tied  up  with  green  ribbon  when  we 
were  christened.  My  nurse  says  I  did,  and  Pat's 
nurse  says  he  did.  And  we  were  both  born  on 
May  Eve.  And  children  like  that  can  always  see 
the  fairies.    Nurse  says  so. 

Dolly.    [Doubtfully .]    Do  you  believe  it  ? 

Kathleen.  Don't  be  so  silly  !  Who  else  is 
coming  besides  Pat  ? 

Betty.  Oh  !  Kenneth  and  Di  Cuthbertson — 
and  a  new  little  boy  I've  never  seen.  Mamma  met 
his  mother  in  Ireland,  and  now  they've  come  to 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  75 

live  quite  close  to  us.  And  his  mother  says  he's 
a  very  strange  child,  and  he's  often  ill,  and  I  wish 
he  wasn't  coming.  [Stops  to  listen  to  her  name  called 
outside,  "  Betty  !  Hullo  a,  Betty  !  "]  [] 'oyfully ».] 
Here's  Pat ! 

[Enter  Pat,  who  looks  a  little  older  than 
Betty.  She  rushes  to  him  and  embraces 
him.] 

Pat  and  Betty.  [Simultaneously.]  Many 
happy  returns  of  the  day  ! 

[He  does  not  at  first  notice  the  other  children, 
and  begins  to  whirl  Betty  round  in  a 
dance.] 

Pat.    I  say  !    The  dormouse  is  heavenly.    Let's 

call   him    Pixy,    and   then   we   can   pretend 

[Suddenly  pulls  himself  v.p,  while  his  manner 
changes.]    Hulloa  ! 

Betty.  This  is  Kathleen,  and  this  is  Dolly. 
I've  just  got  to  know  them.  And  they've  got  a 
Mademoiselle  too,  and 

Pat.  [Rather  shamefacedly  and  gruffly.]  How 
are  you  ?  [Shakes  hands  awkwardly,  then  turns  to 
Betty.]  I  say,  is  that  silly  young  chap  you  told 
me  about,  coming  ? 

Betty.     Yes,  his  mother  said  if  he  was  well 


76  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

enough  he  might.    How  do  you  know  he's  a  silly 
young  chap  ? 

Pat.  Of  course  he  is.  We  don't  know  him. 
Besides,  the  little  ass  is  delicate.  [With  scorn.'] 
Fancy  being  delicate  ! 

Betty.  Well,  he  can't  help  it.  He  may  be  a 
very  nice  little  boy. 

Pat.  [Derisively.]  Very  nice  little  boy  !  Very 
nice  little  ass  ! 

Betty.  [Reprovingly.]  You  know  you're  not 
allowed  to  say  "  ass  " — only  donkey. 

[Door  opens,  and  Kenneth  and  Di  come 
in.    Betty  runs  and  kisses  them.] 

Betty.    How  do  you  do  ? 

Pat.  Hulloa !  [Pulls  Di's  hair.]  Hulloa ! 
[With  nod  to  Kenneth.] 

Betty.    This  is  Kathleen,  and  this  is  Dolly. 
[Children  shake  hands  shyly.] 

Pat.  Come  on,  Betty.  Let's  have  tea.  The 
other  fellow  isn't  coming.  I  suppose  the  poor  little 
angel  has  a  cold. 

[Door  opens,  and  housemaid  comes  in  with 
teapot.] 
Hurrah  !  here's  Jane,  now  we  can  begin. 

Jane.  [Putting  teapot  down.]  I  shouldn't  think 
the  other  little  boy's  coming,  Miss  Betty.     It's 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  77 

past  five.  Are  you  going  to  pour  out  ?  [She  places 
chairs  at  table.]  Are  you  sure  you  can  manage, 
Miss  Betty,  dear  ? 

Betty.  [With  dignity.]  Yes,  beautifully,  of 
course. 

Jane.    [Smiling.]    That's  all  right  then.    [Exit.] 

[The  children  gather  round  the  table.] 

Betty.    [Pouring  out.]    Pass  the  jam,  Pat ! 
[Pat  obeys.]    [The  children  begin  their  lea.] 

Pat.    It's  jolly  decent  jam  ! 

Betty.  [Triumphantly.]  There !  I  haven't 
spilt  a  drop.  [Suddenly.]  I  say,  is  it  rude  to  begin 
without  the  strange  boy,  do  you  think  ?  He 
might  come. 

Pat.  "  The  strange  boy  !  "  What  silly  names 
you  call  people  !  [As  though  inspired  with  an  idea.] 
Well  !  we'll  give  him  one  chance.  [Runs  to  window 
and  opens  it.]  Now  we'll  call  him  three  times,  and 
if  he  doesn't  come,  we'll  jolly  well  go  on  without 
him.  [Calls.]  Strange  boy  !  Are  you  outside  ? 
[Turning  to  children.]  Now  call  that  altogether  ! 
[Children,  laughing  and  entering  into  the 
spirit  of  the  game,  call  altogether] 

Ch.     Strange  boy,  are  you  outside  ? 

Pat.     Strange  boy,  we're  waiting  ! 

Ch.     Strange  boy,  we're  waiting  ! 


78  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Pat.     Strange  boy,  come  now  or  never  ! 
Ch.     Strange  boy,  come  now  or  never  ! 
Pat.    [Shutting  window .]    He's  done  for  himself  ! 
Now  let's  cut  the  cake. 

Betty.    Shall  I  put  in  the  sugar,  or  shall  I 

[A  knock.    All  the  children  suddenly  silent^ 

Betty.  [Below  her  breath.]  It's  the  strange 
boy  !    Come  in  ! 

[The  door  opens,  and  a  pretty  boy  stands  on 
the  threshold.  He  is  dressed  in  a  short 
tunic  of  emerald  green.  He  has  a  quaint 
little  cap  with  a  sprig  of  flower  in  it. 
The  children  look  at  one  another  in 
amazement.] 

Dolly.  [Pulling  Betty's  sleeve  and  speaking  in 
a  loud  aside.]  He  thought  it  was  a  fancy  dress 
party  ! 

[She,  Kathleen,  and  the  other  little  girls 

giggle-] 

The  Boy.    [Suddenly.]    Someone  called  me. 

Betty.  [Getting  off  her  chair  and  going  to  him.] 
You  are  the  little  strange  boy,  aren't  you  ?  We 
thought  you  weren't  coming,  and  so  before  we 
began  tea,  Pat  thought  we'd  better  just 

The  Boy.  Call  me  ?  Yes.  I  was  passing  and  I 
heard. 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  79 

Betty.  [.4s  she  brings  him  to  table.]  Did  you 
really  and  truly  hear  us  outside  ?  I  say,  Pat,  we 
must  have  called  loud. 

Kenneth.  [Staring.]  Why  have  you  got  those 
things  on  ? 

Dolly.    Did  you  think  it  was  fancy  dress  ? 

The  Boy.    I  am  often  dressed  like  this. 

[The  children  again  look  at  one  another  in 
amazement.  Pat,  with  his  elbows  on  the 
table,  never  takes  his  eyes  from  the  new- 
comer. He  pays  no  attention  to  anything 
else.] 

Di.  [Incredulously.]  But  you  don't  play  in  the 
square  like  that  ? 

The  Boy.  No.  I  play  on  the  mountains,  and 
in  the  green  fields,  and  in  the  forest. 

Kathleen.    Then  you  don't  live  in  London  ? 

The  Boy.    No.    But  I  come  sometimes. 

Betty.  Will  you  have  some  birthday  cake  ? 
[Hesitates.]    I  don't  know  what  your  name  is. 

The  Boy.  [Looking  at  the  cake  and  reading]  : 
Betty  and  Pat.  You  [pointing  to  her]  are  Betty 
and  you  are  Pat. 

Kathleen.  How  do  you  know  ?  You've  never 
seen  them  before. 

The  Boy.    Yes,  I  have  seen  them  both  before. 

Pat.    [In  a  confused  way.]    Before  ?    Where  ? 


So  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

The  Boy.  In  a  little  house  in  the  middle  of  the 
forest.  [Pat  and  Betty  exchange  glances.]  I  have 
brought  some  birthday  presents.  Look  !  One  for 
Pat,  and  one  for  Betty.  [He  takes  out  of  his  tunic 
two  little  silver  flutes.] 

[The  children,  except  Betty  and  Pat,  who  take 
the  flutes  silently]  :  Oh  !  how  pretty  ! 

Kenneth.    But  they  don't  know  how  to  play 
on  them  ! 
The  Boy.    Presently  I'll  show  them. 
Dolly.    [Looking  at  him  in  a  puzzled  way.]    How 
funny  you  are  !    Show  them  now. 

Kenneth.  Let's  push  the  table  back  so  that 
we  can  see  him  better. 

[The  children,  with  the  exception  of  Betty 
and  Pat,  who  are  too  absorbed,  do  this, 
and  then  all  stand  or  sit  near  the  table 
watching  curiously.  The  Boy  holds  out 
his  hand  for  Pat's  flute,  which  the  latter 
silently  gives  him.  He  puts  it  to  his  lips, 
and  wild  music  rises.  As  he  plays, 
Betty  and  Pat  get  up  slowly  as  though 
spellbound,  and  stand  hand  in  hand  close 
to  The  Boy,  staring.  The  other  children 
remain  in  their  places  listening,  their 
eyes  fixed  on  the  player.  Music  suddenly 
stops.] 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  81 

Pat.  [Excitedly.]  Listen !  There  were  birds 
singing  just  now,  and  a  rushing  noise,  like  a  water- 
fall. 

Betty.  [Also  excitedly.]  Why,  of  course  !  It's 
our  waterfall,  near  our  cottage  in  the  forest.  We 
always  said  there  was  to  be  one  quite  close.  Oh, 
Pat,  how  lovely  ! 

Pat.    [Eagerly.]    Tell  us  who  you  are  ? 

Boy.  [Laughing  mischievously.]  Why,  I'm 
Michael  O'Neil.  Didn't  you  expect  me  to  your 
birthday  tea  ? 

Pat.  [Slowly.]  You  are  not  really  Michael 
O'Neil  ?    I  believe  you  are [Pauses.] 

Betty.    We  think  you  are 

[Pauses  and  glances  at  the  other  children, 
who  are  still  gazing  at  the  Boy  as  though 
bewitched!] 

Boy.  Go  on.  They're  half  asleep.  That's  what 
the  music  does  to  some  people.  They  won't  re- 
member anything  we  say.  Who  do  you  think  I 
am  ? 

Betty.  [Going  close  to  him,  delightedly,  yet  a 
little  afraid.]    We  think  you  are — a  fairy  ! 

Dolly.  [Sleepily,  while  she  yawns  and  rubs  her 
eyes.]    How  silly  you  are,  Betty  !    [Yawns  again.] 

Di.    [Also  sleepily.]    Always  talking  about 


82  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Kathleen.    Always  talking  about [Stops  to 

yawn.] 

Kenneth.    [Rubbing  his  eyes.]    Silly  fairies  and 
things. 
Pat.    [To  Boy.]    Tell  us  ! 
Betty.    Tell  us  !    Are  you  a  fairy  ? 
Boy.    [Laughing.]    It's  a  secret. 
Pat.     But  anyhow  you  know  them  ?     You've 
seen  them  ? 
Boy.    Listen.    I'll  tell  you  a  story. 

[He  beckons,  and  very  slowly  the  other 
children  draw  near,  and  sit  on  the  floor, 
while  the  Boy  stands  in  the  midst  of 
them.    He  speaks  mysteriously]  : 

Michael  O'Neil  lies  quiet  in  bed, 

A  soft  warm  pillow  under  his  head. 

There  he  lies  through  the  livelong  day, 

"  Staring  at  nothing  "  the  good  folks  say. 

[Laughs.]  Little  they  know  that  Michael's  "  away." 

Out  and  away  with  the  fairy  men, 

Over  the  mountains,  into  the  glen, 

Into  the  glen  of  the  silent  lake 

Beside  whose  waters  the  rushes  shake. 

There  he  sees  when  the  night  is  still 

Thousands  of  stars,  peep  over  the  hill, 

Thousands  of  stars  in  the  water  deep 

Lie  'mid  the  rushes — fast  asleep. 

There  he  hears  when  the  night  is  fair 

Sweet  wild  music  upon  the  air  ; 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  83 

Music  so  strange,  so  keen,  so  clear, 

The  daisies  open  their  leaves  to  hear, 

And  all  the  birds  that  are  dreaming  of  spring 

Wake  in  their  nests,  and  begin  to  sing. 

There  he  sees,  through  the  warm  still  night, 

The  feet  of  the  fairies  gleaming  white, 

In  a  dance  so  wild,  in  a  dance  so  gay, 

That  Michael  laughs,  and  the  good  folks  say, 

"  What  has  come  to  the  child  to-day  ?  " 

Little  they  know  that  Michael's  "  away  "  ! 

[Laughs  again.] 

Pat.    [Slowly.]    Is  that  how  it  is  ? 

Betty.  [Nodding.]  Yes,  I  think  I  under- 
stand. 

Boy.  [Laughing.]  Do  you  ?  I  thought  you 
would. 

Kenneth.  [Getting  up  and  yawning]  Let's 
play  something  else  now.  I'm  tired  of  Blind  Man's 
Buff. 

Kathleen.  [Dreamily.]  Let's  have  Hunt  the 
Slipper. 

Dolly.    Yes.     Hunt  the  Slipper. 

[Kenneth  takes  off  his  shoe.  The  children 
move  to  another  part  of  the  room,  and  sit 
in  a  ring,  every  now  and  then  passing 
the  slipper  slowly  from  one  to  another  as 
though  they  are  playing  in  their  sleep.] 


84  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Betty.  [First  looking  at  them,  and  then  at  the 
Boy,  calls  wonderingly]  :   Kathleen  !    Kenneth  ! 

Boy.  Let  them  alone.  They  think  we're  all 
playing.  The  music  made  them  think  so,  that's 
all. 

Pat.    But  why  didn't  it  make  us  think  so  ? 

Boy.  I  don't  know.  It  says  different  things  to 
different  people. 

Betty.  [Eagerly.]  Tell  us  everything  about 
Fairyland.    Do  the  fairies  talk  ? 

Boy.    They  whisper. 

Pat.    What  do  they  whisper  ? 

Boy.  You  don't  understand — until  you've  been 
away  with  them. 

Betty.    Do  you  dance  with  them  ? 

Boy.    Yes. 

Pat  and  Betty.    Show  us  ! 

Boy.  [Looking  round  the  room.]  Here?  I  want 
the  soft  grass,  and  the  big  white  moon,  and  all  the 
stars. 

Pat.    Try  !    Do  try  ! 

Boy.  Well !  But  it  won't  be  right.  Wait  till 
I  call  the  music. 

[Puts  flute  to  his  lips.  Music  rises.  He 
throws  down  flute,  and  while  music  still 
sounds,  dances.] 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  85 

Betty.  [After  dance.]  Oh  !  teach  us  !  Teach 
Pat  and  me  ! 

Boy.  I  can't.  You  must  first  learn  your  magic 
flutes. 

Pat.    Shall  we  ever  play  them  ? 

Boy.    Perhaps.    If  you  take  enough  trouble. 

[While  he  speaks  he  moves  towards  the 
door  centre.] 
Betty.      [Apprehensively.]      Where    are    you 
going  ? 

Boy.  [Laughing  and  speaking  in  mysterious 
whisper.]  Back  to  Michael.  He's  been  staring  at 
nothing,  long  enough.  It's  time  he  was  lively  once 
more. 

Pat.  [Running  after  him.]  But  we  shall  see  you 
again  ? 

Boy.    Yes.    You  will  see  Michael  O'Neil. 
[Laughs.]    He  will  be  dressed  in  a  suit  like  yours  ! 
Betty.    [Incoherently.]    But  we  don't  want  that. 
We  want  your  lovely  green  dress,  and  the  grass, 

and  the  big  white  moon,  and  the 

Boy.  Then  you  must  learn  to  play  the  flutes. 
But  [impressively]  hide  them  !  That's  right,  hide 
them  !    Good-bye  !   Good-bye  ! 

[He  waves  his  hand  to  each  of  them  in  turn, 
opens  the  door,  and  is  gone,  smiling  as 
he  goes.    Faint  music  sounds  a  moment, 
g  2 


86  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

and  dies.  Betty  and  Pat  stand  looking 
at  one  another.  The  moment  music 
ceases,  the  other  children  resume  their 
natural  manner,  and  come  running  up, 
talking  altogether .] 

Kathleen.    Shall  we  play  Dumb  Crambo  now  ? 
Dolly.    Oh  no. 

Di.    Yes.    Yes.    Dumb  Crambo. 
Kenneth.     [To  Pat.]     You  and  Betty  choose 
sides. 

[While  the  clamour  goes  on,  Jane,  the  house- 
maid, comes  in.] 

Jane.  You're  called  for,  Miss  Di,  and  Master 
Kenneth.  [To  Kathleen  and  Dolly.]  And  your 
maid  is  here  too,  dears. 

Di.    Oh  no  !    Not  yet. 

Kathleen.    Oh  !  can't  we  stay  a  little  longer  ? 

Jane.  They're  both  in  a  hurry,  and  they  say 
you  mustn't  wait.  [To  Betty.]  Oh,  Miss  Betty, 
the  poor  little  boy  wasn't  well  enough  to  come. 
He's  been  in  bed  all  day.  Someone's  just  been 
round  with  a  message. 

Betty  and  Pat.    Why  ? 

[Check  themselves  suddenly,  and  look  at 
other  children.] 

Dolly.    Why,  he  did  come.    [Stops,  puzzled.] 


THE  STRANGE  BOY  87 

Kathleen.  What  do  you  mean  ?  Fancy  not 
knowing  if  he  came  !  How  stupid  you  are,  Dolly. 
[Dolly  still  looks  puzzled.'] 

Di.    Well,  we  called  him.    [Laughing] 

Kenneth.    Yes.    We  gave  him  a  chance. 

Jane.  [Carelessly?]  Called  him  ?  What  do  you 
mean  ?  But  come  along  and  get  your  things  on. 
I'll  take  them,  Miss  Betty,  and  then  they  shall 
come  back  to  say  good-bye.  [Suspiciously.]  You're 
very  quiet,  you  two.  I  hope  you've  been  good  and 
kind  to  your  little  friends  ? 

Di.    Oh  yes.    We've  had  such  fun,  Jane. 

Kathleen.    We've  had  Blind  Man's  Buff. 

Di.    And  Hunt  the  Slipper,  and 

[The  children  go  out  with  Jane  talking. 
When  the  door  closes  upon  them,  Betty 
and  Pat  look  at  one  another,  then  simul- 
taneously take  out  the  flutes.    They  both 
put  them  to  their  lips,  and  blow  in  vain] 

Betty.    [Despairingly.]    It's  no  good. 

Pat.  [Doggedly.]  We've  got  to  learn  them,  you 
know.    And  we  shall,  if  we  take  enough  trouble. 

Betty.  And  when  we  get  grown  up,  we'll  play 
them  in  our  cottage  in  the  forest.  And  then  we 
shall  see  the  fairies  dance. 

Pat.    And  know  the  squirrels'  language  ! 


88  THE  FAIRY  DOLL 

Betty.    And  hear  the  flowers  talk. 
Pat.    And  understand  everything — and  have  a 
splendid  time  ! 

Betty.  [Excitedly  clinging  to  Pat's  arm.]  And 
we'll  never  forget  the  strange  boy,  will  we  ?  And 
we'll  ask  him  to  tea  in  our  cottage,  and  have  eggs 
and  honey  and  cream.  It  will  be  perfectly  lovely. 
[With  sudden  ruefulness.]  But,  oh,  Pat !  I  expect 
it  will  take  a  long  time  to  learn  the  flutes. 

[Both  children  stand  now  together,  looking 
down  at  the  flutes  which  they  hold  in 
their  hands.] 

Curtain. 


BY   THE   SAME  AUTHOR 


Six  Fairy  Plays 

For  Children 


3/6 


NET. 


Daily  Telegraph.  — "  Hostesses  with  young-  folk  to  please 
should  find  Miss  Syrett's  book  a  boon  and  a  blessing." 

Daily  A'eivs. —  "Miss  Syrett  has  given  us  six  plays, 
simple,  understandable,  yet  with  plenty  of  vivacity  about 
them,  and  just  the  necessary  touch  of  mystery  suggestion 
of  the  big  unknown  world  that  holds  Ichildren  and  other 
wise  people  in  thrall.  The  author  seems  to  be  in  touch 
with  children's  life  and  thought.  The  plays  will  prove 
most  acceptable  to  all  who  are  concerned  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  children's  theatricals." 

Saturday  Review.  —  "These  little  plays  are  charming, 
fanciful  and  poetic,  delightfully  written  ;  and  each  with  its 
own  tiny  plot  well  worked  out  and  ingeniously  developed. 
The  characters  are  full  of  life  and  movement  and  well 
within  the  limits  of  childish  art." 

Truth.  — "  There  must  be  a  considerable  number  of  people 
who  are  at  a  loss  to  find  a  modern  play  suited  to  the 
abilities  of  children,  for  the  choice  is  exceedingly  limited, 
and  in  this  volume  there  is  abundance  of  material." 

Athenceum. — "  It  was  a  good  inspiration  which  led  Miss 
Netta  Syrett  to  write  '  Six  Fairy  Plays,'  and  many  a  father 
and  mother,  not  to  speak  of  more  distant  relations,  will  be 
grateful  to  her.  She  has  simplified  many  little  difficulties 
by  giving  brief  but  useful  hints  with  regard  to  stage 
management." 

British  Weekly. — "A  useful  book  for  young  girls  and 
children  who  are  fond  of  getting  up  theatricals.  The  good 
hints  on  stage  management  are  a  great  advantage." 


JOHN  LAN'E  THE  BODLEY  HEAD  LTD.,  VIGO  ST.,  W.  i 


BY   THE   SAME  AUTHOR 


Six  Fairy  Plays 

For  Children 


3/6 


NET. 


Daily  Chronicle.— "We  hope  very  much  that  the  stage- 
managers  of  these  annual  performances  will  come  across 
her  plays  before  their  next  representation.  For  every  one 
of  the  six  could  be  produced  with  ease  on  the  amateur 
stage,  whether  at  school  or  at  home,  and  the  practical  hints 
as  to  staging  and  costume,  which  precede  each  of  them, 
will  be  of  great  help  to  anyone  who  produces  them." 

Globe.  —  "These  six  little  pieces  are  all  very  pretty  and 
pleasing,  and  well  within  the  capacity  of  the  average  boy 
and  girl.  Miss  Syrett  not  only  provides  the  text,  but  sup- 
plies hints  for  its  interpretation— hints  which  are  thoroughly 
practical  and  to  the  point." 

Bookman. — "Picturesque,  poetical,  and  by  no  means 
difficult  to  '  stage'  at  home." 

Westminster  Gazette. — "  Budding  amateur  actors  should 
take  note  of  this  book,  which  supplies  them  with  excellent 
material." 

Graphic. — "  Children  will  find  little  difficulty  in  represent- 
ing either  of  the  '  Six  Fairy  Plays,'  all  of  which  are  pretty 
and  simple. 

Referee. — "  All  are  excellent." 

World. — "To  all  children  with  any  instinct  for  'play- 
acting' this  book  will  prove  indeed  a  boon." 

Manchester  Guardian. — "  We  heartily  commend  this  book 
to  domestic  stage-managers." 


JOHN  LANE  THE  BODLEY  HEAD  LTD,  VIGO  ST.,  W.  i 


BY   THE   SAME  AUTHOR 


ROBIN  G00DFELL0W 

AND   OTHER   FAIRY  PLAYS   FOR    CHILDREN 


2/6 


NET. 


Daily  Telegraph.—"  In  '  Robin  Goodfellow '  Miss 
Syrett  repeats  her  former  success.  All  the  plays  are 
well  within  the  scope  of  children's  powers,  and  they 
will  delight  a  child's  taste." 

Westminster  Gazette. — "  All  are  simple,  dainty,  and 
attractive.  As  they  are  both  good  to  read  and  simple 
to  produce,  there  should  be  a  mine  of  entertainment 
in  them." 

Nation. — "  The  best  sort  of  schools,  where  children 
are  trained  to  be  happily  their  best  selves,  should  look 
at  •  Robin  Goodfellow.'  The  sort  of  drama  in  which 
children  would  act  with  zest." 

Times. — "Should  bring  pleasure  to  actors  and 
audience  alike." 

Pall  Mall  Gazette.—"  Dainty  and  delightful." 

Daily  Graphic. — "  Certain  to  receive  a  joyous 
welcome  in  those  homes  where  amateur  acting  is  a 
favourite  recreation." 

Morning  Post. — "  Very  charming." 

Observer. — ' '  This  volume  of  fairy  plays  will  be  espec- 
ially welcomed  for  the  scope  they  afford  for  dancing." 

Globe. — "  Miss  Syrett  has  provided  a  very  dainty 
pastime  which  affords  an  admirable  outlet  for  the 
children's  energies." 


JOHN  LANE  THE  BODLEY  HEAD  LTD.,  VIGO  ST.,  W.  i 


BY   THE  SAME  AUTHOR 


ROBIN  G00DFELL0W 

AND   OTHER    FAIRY   PLAYS   FOR   CHILDREN 


2/6 


NET. 


Country  Life. — "All  the  plays  give  opportunities 
for  dancing  and  for  pretty  stage  effects." 

Guardian. — "  Capital  little  pieces  well  fitted  for 
staging." 

Illustrated  London  News. — "  Just  the  thing  for  those 
getting  up  dramatic  entertainments." 

Bookman. — "  Miss  Syrett's  charming  little  book  of 
fairy  plays  should  make  many  a  youngster  happy. 
Fresh,  interesting,  and  full  of  good  fun,  the  plays  are 
altogether  delightful,  and  Miss  Syrett  is  to  be  con- 
gratulated." 

Outlook. — "Six  charming  little  plays." 

Lady's  Pictorial. — "All  the  plays  can  be  simply 
produced.  They  are  fresh  and  original  in  idea  and 
touched  with  very  charming  poetic  fancy." 

Scotsman. — "The  book  cannot  but  prove  welcome 
to  organisers  of  children's  entertainment." 

Christian  World. — "  Plenty  of  humour  and  action." 

Birmingham  Post. — "Excellent  entertainment  for 
the  children  who  perform  them  as  well  as  for  those 
who  look  on." 

Yorkshire  Observer. — "They  are  all  pretty,  well 
written,  interesting,  and  simple." 


JOHN  LANE  THE  BODLEY  HEAD  LTD.,  VIGO  ST.,  W.  i 


